FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grande Prairie, AB – January 31, 2025
Community Members,
It is with great difficulty and deep concern that we must share the news that Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie is at risk of closing its doors on March 31, 2025, unless emergency funding can be secured. Should this occur, this will be leaving over 300 registered families and between 25-70 youth daily without a youth centre that is a safe, inclusive space for mentorship, mental health support, learning activities, and community connection.
For over 45 years, The Cool Aid Society has been a vital part of our community, providing a safe, inclusive, and engaging space for youth ages 5-18 through afterschool programming, evening programs, and PD/summer camps. We have worked tirelessly to build community connections, foster mentorship, and offer no-cost programs and some paid programming, ensuring every child has access to healthy support and opportunity—regardless of their circumstances.
Unfortunately, in a brief meeting on the week of January 24, we were informed that our primary funder, through an initiative now rebranded and formally under major provincial government, will be ceasing their contract with us, as our organization no longer aligns with their mission and initiatives.
The Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie has Preventative initiatives, whereas their mission has intervention initiatives.
While this Funder has the right to reallocate funding, this abrupt and unexpected decision has placed Cool Aid Society under immense financial strain. For over a year, we worked tirelessly—and I truly mean tirelessly—to develop a program that no one else has, merging intervention and preventative mental health services to support youth in a way that was both innovative and essential. We partnered closely with this Funder, believing in a shared commitment to youth well-being and the importance of mental health programming.
Hearing the news, we were candid in our frustration and dismay—not just because of the funding cut itself, but because this decision was made without prior notice, despite a long-standing, decade-long partnership. The termination of a contract that has made up the majority of our revenue over ten years, giving a fixed monthly payment that allows us to function well below our break even, now leaves us facing imminent closure and puts significant strain on the youth, families, and employees who rely on us every day. This was not just a budget adjustment; it was a decision that impacts an entire community.
It must be noted that while we’re significantly disappointed with their decision, however, they have every right to ensure that their partner organizations align with their initiatives and mandates, and they have the ability to reallocate funding in alignment with their own priorities.
We wanted to share this impact firsthand, so there is no speculation or issues and advise our community what this means.
This abrupt change comes at a devastating time for our Organization, our Employees, and the Families we serve.
For years, this Funder’s revenue helped support our ability to operate two locations—our former Hillside facility (later moved to the Big Red Barn) and our current Patterson location. However, this funding was never sufficient to fully sustain both sites, and as we faced post-COVID financial challenges, rising lease costs, and inflation, we made the strategic decision to consolidate into one location in early 2024 to remain operational. Now, with this funding ending entirely, our ability to remain open at all is in jeopardy.
That strategic decision was made to ensure that Cool Aid could remain operational in a single, centralized facility, where we could maximize resources, enhance programming, and focus on delivering impactful services to youth and families.
Our Board of Directors and Operations Team worked tirelessly to streamline operations and secure additional funding sources, but like many non-profits, we faced ongoing deficits and funding limitations. Despite these efforts, the recent unexpected termination of our funding as of March 31, 2025, now places our entire organization at risk of closure.
We made the responsible decision last year to consolidate our services into one location, ensuring that our youth could continue to access quality programs in a financially sustainable way. However, this latest funding loss leaves us without the critical resources needed to remain operational at all, putting at risk the hundreds of youths and families who rely on us every day.
You may ask what might have occurred to get us to this point?
To keep with our transparency, we would like to note that this news comes after a year and a half of significant rebuilding under our prior and current Board of Directors and new Leadership team following internal challenges with previous executive management in mid-2023. Our Board and staff have worked exceptionally hard to reestablish trust in the community, strengthen programming, and create a financially responsible path forward—despite years of operating in deficit, we have swiftly adjusted operations to have as lean of a budget as possible, however we have experienced, like many NPOs, ongoing deficits.
Despite these challenges, we have seen amazing programming done by our incredible team of Program Coordinators, led by an amazing Operations Manager, and we have seen tremendous growth, with over 300 families registered to our organization, and depending on time of year between 110-175 enrolled in our programs with between 25-70 youth attending daily in various programs and activities from our Afterschool Programs, Evening Programs and our PD Days and Summer Camps.
We have incredible Youth Leadership programs with amazing Youths in the Highschool Programs participating in teaching our Afterschool Programs, Dance, Art, and STEM programs, and have so many of our youth showing initiatives, and desires in Career and fun Activity leadership.
We have our youth showing our CORE Commitment Daily. Our youth live by the COOL Pledge and Code, holding themselves and each other accountable in fostering a safe and supportive space.
The COOL Code stands for Commitment, Open-mindedness, Optimism, Leadership, Accountability, Integrity, and Determination.
Now, we as an organization, Board, and leadership team are taking this devastating news and sharing it as a last effort to rally community support—because we too will live by this pledge.
We are showing our Cool Aid youth that we will remain committed, open-minded, and determined in our fight to keep this safe and inclusive space open.
Our Urgent Call for Support
Like many non-profits, we rely heavily on large funding contracts to sustain our operations. While we are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from the City of Grande Prairie and FCSS, the current funding is not sufficient to cover our full operational needs. Additionally, we have been fortunate to receive tremendous support from local businesses and organizations, who have generously contributed to our subsidy program, helping families send their children to camp and participate in special activities. These contributions are deeply appreciated and essential, but they alone cannot bridge the funding gap needed to keep our doors open.
We have spent the last year applying for new grants, exploring alternative funding sources, looking at converting our space for drop-in all-day care, and launching active fundraising initiatives, including an upcoming casino night in March. Despite our best efforts, we are still short of what is needed to remain open without that fixed monthly contract beyond March 31, 2025.
Our Board and Operations Team are now working directly with amazing contact through Housing & Community Development, FCSS, and the City of Grande Prairie, and are hoping to plead our case to City Council on February 4, 2025, requesting money in emergency funding.
This funding would contribute to replace the necessary monthly amount required to reach our break-even point, allowing us to remain open until June 30, 2025, providing the necessary time to collaborate with Housing and Community Development, FCSS, Local Businesses and more to explore long-term solutions for Summer and beyond.
What Happens Next?
If we do not secure additional funding, we will have no choice but to close our doors. This would mean:
❌ The loss of After-school Programs for youth 5-14, Evening programming for youth 10-18, and PD and Summer camps for so many youth in the Grande Prairie Area.
❌ The elimination of vital community resources for families who rely on us for our No-Cost Programming and Affordable options for PD and Summer Camps.
❌ The end of leadership, mentorship, and job opportunities for the high school students who help teach and support our programs.
❌ The end of job opportunities for incredible Program Coordinators who mentor and teach the children and youth daily
Frankly, the end of an Amazing Youth Centre who has had roots in Grande Prairie for 45 years, meant to support all Youth and be a safe and inclusive place.
Our Mission has and will always be:
Commitment: The Cool Aid Society, a compassionate Grande Prairie Charitable organization, is dedicated to serving the diverse youth community, emphasizing our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and innovative programming.
Programs: We provide engaging, interactive programs for youths aged 5 to 18, focusing on mental health, body positivity, friendship, mentorship, and community connection.
Impact: Our mission is to create a safe and inclusive environment, contributing to positive mental health and development. The impact of our programs resonates within the youth and the broader community, fostering an environment where they are more likely to grow, thrive, and excel.
Accessibility: Our programs, offered during afternoons and evenings, include no-cost afterschool and evening care for youths aged 5 to 18, special age-specific programs, and paid programming for Professional Development Days and Seasonal Breaks, ensuring accessibility for youths aged 5 to 14.
Inclusivity: Our commitment extends beyond specific demographics, making our youth center a safe haven for all youths in the Grande Prairie region, regardless of background or socio-economic status.
Community Connection: Together with our affiliates, donors, funders, partnerships, sponsorships, Board of Directors, Youth Leaders, volunteers, and remarkable young individuals and their families, we collectively empower youths to make healthy life decisions through guidelines, expectations, friendship, support, mentorship, and community connection.
Elevate youth well-being with The Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie! Our inclusive programs foster mental health, body positivity, and community connection. Join us in making a positive impact.
We are committed to being transparent with our families and the community and doing everything possible to find an alternative funding solution. However, we need your help.
🚨 How You Can Help – ACT NOW 🚨
✔ Show support for Cool Aid. Share out Post #SaveCoolAid
✔ Reach out if you have connections to potential funding sources. director@coolaidsociety.ca
✔ Spread awareness of the impact this funding loss will have on youth and families, advocation on how our Organization has helped you and your families, please send me an email: director@coolaidsociety.ca
✔ Tell Your Story – If Cool Aid has impacted your family, send us an email at director@coolaidsociety.ca
It is truly with a heavy heart that we make this announcement today.
Our team has worked tirelessly to provide quality programming and support to youth in our community, and we will continue to fight for solutions to keep Cool Aid Society operational.
We do ask at this time for email only, we will not be fielding phone calls, and we ask that you keep the correspondence to the requested fashion to allow our organization.
If anyone would like to discuss this further or help, please reach out: director@coolaidsociety.ca
With deep appreciation,
AmandaBeret Gerber- Financial Director director@coolaidsociety.ca
Amanda Werny- Board President
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