"Well, I have to say we are delighted, absolutely thrilled! We did exceed last year's numbers. I was really hoping we would, but we kind of blew it out of the water," says Marketing Manager for Boundary Co-op, Cheryl Rushing. "So, we raised almost $2000 more than we did last year. Our total this year ends up being $10,175. Just a stellar amount of money!"
"Three really great, really deserving groups are going to take home some good money!" adds Rushing.
The Deloraine Ag Society
This committee has been working hard all summer long to upgrade the Deloraine Ag grounds, and now they will have $2,311 to do just that, thanks to the many who purchased fuel, a coffee, a Big Cool Slush, and a noon lunch at the Deloraine gas bar on Tuesday.
"The Deloraine Ag Society they are always fundraising to improve and renovate the infrastructure that's on the Ag grounds and get things all in top form for the summer fair," explains Rushing. "A really great motivated group of young people putting in a lot of effort and really making it a big thing every year."
"We plan the Deloraine Summer Fair every summer and this past year we've done a bunch of projects," explains Ag Society Treasurer, Jessica Vandale. "We built an open-sided shed at the fairgrounds, we built some bleachers, and then this upcoming year we plan to paint the seating area of the grandstand. So, all of the proceeds from Fuel Good Day will go toward helping us achieve some of these projects we've been working on!"
Boundary Co-op HR Manager, Shirley Bell, was extending extra hands at the Deloraine gas bar on Tuesday to help out with the noon BBQ lunch. "I'm excited to be helping out in my home community here in Deloraine," says Bell. "We know it's important for Co-op to be supporting their communities and the various organizations. Community is so important. This is a Co-op wide event and is in all the Co-op's in Western Canada but it's so special to us to be out here in Deloraine and support our local Ag Society."
Boissevain Morton Arts Council
This year in Boissevain, the local Arts Council was the recipients of Fuel Good Day, with $3,773 being raised at the pumps and the c-store coffee, slush and lunch time BBQ sales.
"The Boissevain-Morton Arts Council provides art and musical programming within the community for youth and adults and everybody in between," shares Rushing. "They support the outdoor mural projects in Boissevain. They offer classes and creative space, and they're located in the Arts Hall, which is a designated heritage site. And they are in desperate need of some new windows and doors!"
"We are specifically fundraising for our windows and doors for the Arts Hall," shares Arts Council President, Lisa Heide. "We got a big grant, and we have to do some matching for it. We're looking to raise just under $30,000 for it and so this money will go towards that."
"The building started out as the original town hall and fire hall, which is why we call it the Arts Hall," explains Heide. "And then it's had different ideations in the past, most recently it was the physiotherapy, upstairs is where the gymnastics program is held. Also, upstairs has been the theatre in town at one time. So, this building has a lot of history and so we like to keep it alive and well. It's a great location and a beautiful building!"
Killarney-Turtle Mountain Fire Department
"We all know how important it is to have volunteer firefighters in our community and how important it is to support them," says Rushing. "It just so happened they had a fire call yesterday when we were getting lunch ready for the community and they responded to that and were still able to make it back in time to serve some lunch!"
"Through fuel sales and lunch, coffee and slush sales, we raised $4,089 for that group. So, really good, strong numbers!" she adds.
Killarney Fire Chief, Troy Cuvelier, says the Fuel Good Day fundraiser was a great way to raise some extra funds for their department. "This opportunity came up and we were offered an application, and we applied and were the recipients! So, the proceeds from the day go towards our equipment and well-needed gear."
"Actually, Boundary Co-op has been a great supporter all summer," adds Cuvelier. "We hold a BBQ for each of the car shows in downtown Killarney and Co-op helps us out with lots of Bar-B-Ques and events."
Fill-Ups and Feel-Goods: Boundary Co-op powers past last year’s total
Last year Federated Co-op raised over $700,000 in total from their gas bars across Western Canada on Fuel Good Day, which is the largest amount to date. Since launching in 2017, the event has raised over $3 million for more than 700 local organizations across Western Canada.
Every year on Fuel Good Day, Federated Co-op donates a minimum of five cents per litre of fuel purchased at participating gas bars to local charities and non-profits. Each year Boundary Co-op matches that 5 cents to make it a 10-cent donation to their three designated recipients.
With a total of $10,175 raised between the three communities on Fuel Good Day 2025, Rushing couldn't be happier.
"That is just under $2000 more than last year! Last year we raised $8,238 between Boissevain, Deloraine and Killarney. So, we're delighted!"
Rushing notes they saw a substantial increase at the gas pumps in each of those locations.
"You know, every 10 cents counts, and it was a very obvious with these totals that we saw that everybody's efforts made such a big difference," she shares. "But really, we couldn't have been more pleased with the weather and with the response from the communities. Like, to see that jump at the pumps, that was a really pleasant surprise! You hope for it. You don't want to expect it, but you hope for it! And people came through. So, I'm so thrilled! We're absolutely thrilled!"
