Voters select Canadian semi-finalists in Aviva Community Fund competition

The Aviva Community Fund has announced the semi-finalists for its competition, which offers $1 million in donations for community initiatives across the country.

 Canadians submitted around 1,100 ideas and cast nearly 2 million votes for projects that will improve communities across the country. The semi-finalists will now attempt to gain votes again, with the top 30 (10 from each funding category) becoming finalists, guaranteeing their idea between $5,000 and $150,000 in funding.

Ideas with associated charities that are not moving to the semi-finals will also have their “vote now” button on the website replaced with a “donate now” button, to allow for continued support.

Starting Dec. 2, voters can visit the website o support their favourite semi-finalist ideas until Dec. 11. Finalists and winners will be announced Dec. 13, 2013 and Jan.28, 2014, respectively.

The semi-finalists include:

British Columbia (11)

• Let’s Play Together! Evans Elementary Community Playground (Chilliwack)
• Courtney & Skye Buck Memorial Courtyard at Raft River Elementary (Clearwater)
• Project Ecole Mt. Prevost: Let’s Get Moving! (Duncan)
• North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (Errington)
• Palsson Playground Improvement (Lake Cowichan)
• Critter Care Wildlife Society – Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (Langley)
• Dream Harry Hooge Elementary Playground (Maple Ridge)
• Community Playground at Qayqayt (KUH-KITE) – (New Westminster)
• Art for Everyone! (Richmond)
• New Freezer/Cooler for Eagle Bay Camp (Shuswap Lake)
• Youth4Tap Windermere (Vancouver)

Alberta (16)

• Saint-André Playground Project (Beaumont)
• “Save the Beaver River Trestle” on Alberta’s Iron Horse Trail (Bonnyville)
• Help Rebuild Alberta Flood-Ravaged Camp Gardner (Calgary)
• Rideau Park School Playground and Sport Court (Calgary)
• The Lab – A Hip Hop Space for At-Risk Youth (Calgary)
• Claresholm Bowling Alley & Family Fun Centre (Claresholm)
• Coalhurst Community Playground and Park Project (Coalhurst)
• Give Pass Powder Keg a LIFT! (Crowsnest Pass)
• Anything is Pawsible (Edmonton)
• Fill the Halls with Music (Edmonton)
• Shelter from the Storm (Edmonton)
• Stratford School/Jasper Park Playground Redevelopment (Edmonton)
• Developing a Space for The Last Chance Cat Ranch: Saving Stray Cats (Lethbridge)
• Wilson Way Bus (Lethbridge)
• Stirling Community Running/Walking Trail (Stirling)
• Barrier Free Community Playground (Valhalla Centre)

Saskatchewan (1)

• Moose Jaw Minor Football Practice Field (Moose Jaw)

Manitoba (1)

• Winnipeg Beach School: Together, We Are Able (Winnipeg Beach)

Ontario (25)

• Wildlife Rehabilitation Nursery (Barrie)
• Fox and Coyote Veterinary and Rehabilitation Facility Project (Beeton)
• Project Jessie – Help Us To Help Even More Animals In Ontario! (Caledon)
• A Playground for All (Courtice)
• I Am Awesome! Self Esteem & Empowerment Retreat (Emo)
• Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital (Georgian Bay)
• Goderich Lions Club – Camp Klahanie Revitalization (Goderich)
• Turning Grey to Green: Transforming G. R. Allan School’s Ground (Hamilton)
• Marathon District Museum (Marathon)
• The Cultural Café Project: Jobs for the Visually Impaired (Markham)
• It Takes A Village To Build A Playground (Newcastle)
• May 12th Awareness Day for ME/CFS and FM (Ottawa)
• Vincent Massey Kindergarten Playground Renewal( Ottawa)
• A Safe Place to Heal (Pefferlaw)
• Nursery for Orphaned Baby Animals (Rosseau)
• Give All the Paws at LAWS a New, Safe Home! (Smiths Falls)
• Camp Winston: Extraordinary Programs for Very Special Kids! (Sparrow Lake)
• Gymnastics Energy (St. Catharines)
• Make a Splash for Stacey (Sundridge)
• Challenging the Status Quo of Elder Care. There is a Better Way! (Toronto)
• Community Grassroots Arts Hub (Toronto)
• Helping People Help Homeless Cats (Toronto)
• Transforming Lives of Children at Risk With the Power of Music (Toronto)
• Kitty Kare Cat Sanctuary (Thunder Bay)
• WesForYouthOnline.Ca…….It’s Okay to Ask for Help! (Walkerton)

Quebec (15)

• Le CPE a besoin d’aires de jeux extérieures sécuritaires! (Baie-Saint-Paul)
• Une nouvelle cour d’école pour Gaston-Pilon! (Boisbriand)
• S.P.A. des Cantons / Sterilization Program (Cowansville)
• Valhalla’s Sustainability Learning Centre (La Prairie)
• Construire ses plus beaux souvenirs dans notre futur parc-école (Mirabel)
• Animal Rescue Networks PURRfect Shelter for Life – Help us Build (Montreal)
• Give a Dog a Second Chance – Opt to Adopt (Montreal)
• Montréal Roller Derby – Sport Court Project (Montreal)
• Revitalisation de la cour de l’école Christ-Roi (Montreal)
• Girl Guide Camp Wa-Thik-Ane – Help Us Keep Our Boats Afloat! (Morin-Heights)
• Pour une éducation alternative axée sur la nature (Pointe-St-Charles)
• Donnez un toit à notre piscine! (Quebec City)
• Les Éclairs font rayonner la musique au Québec! (Quebec City)
• Le parascolaire contre le décrochage scolaire au Paul-Hubert (Rimouski)
• Refuge Anni-maux (St-Bernard de Beauce)

New Brunswick (6)

• Help Us Help Animals by Completing Our New Shelter! (Dalhousie)
• Aidez à  la construction du refuge – Help Build the Shelter (Edmundston)
• Shelter for the Homeless / Refuge pour les sans-foyers (Grand-Sault)
• Be Their Best Friend (Moncton)
• A Low Cost Cat Spay and Neuter Program in Saint John (Saint John)
• The Joshua Group Center – A Place Where Dreams are Made (Saint John)

Nova Scotia (9)

• Emily’s Place Spay & Neuter Outreach Society (Amherst)
• Autism Cape Breton After School Program (Cape Breton)
• Hope for Mojo – Baie Ste. Marie Animal Society (Church Point)
• Rae of Light Centre (Dartmouth)
• Litters N Critters-Vet Bill Fund (Halifax)
• The St. Margaret’s Bay Skate Park Project (Hubbards)
• Cranton Crossroads Community Center Dream Playground (Margaree Centre)
• Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada Society (Musquodoboit Harbour)
• Port Hawkesbury Community Park (Port Hawkesbury)

Prince Edward Island (2)

• Souris Playground for ALL (Souris)
• Youth Engagement Centre for At-Risk Youth (Summerside)

Newfoundland and Labrador (4)

• Tricon Playground (Bay De Verde)
• Change Islands Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary (Change Islands)
• A Beagle’s Dream (St. John’s)
• Small Town, Small Pool, Big Dreams!! (Twillingate)