Growers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario recognized with Growing Home with BASF, an initiative launched by BASF in 2023 to give back to the communities where BASF customers live, work and play. 4 companies were selected.
Selected from 624 nominations from producers, the 2024 winners include the Erskine Curling Club in Alberta, the Abbey Curling Club in Saskatchewan, the St. Jean-Baptiste Volunteer Fire Department in Manitoba, and Three Oaks in Ontario. Includes respite cabin. Each winner will receive her $25,000 gift from BASF to fund initiatives that promote health and sustainability in rural communities.
In true community spirit, voting to determine BASF’s winners was open to the public for two weeks, allowing finalist organizations to mobilize support from their networks. A total of 135,908 votes were cast for the finalists.
“The close-knit communities featured in this program are the heart of rural Canada,” said Rita Larache, vice president of business management at BASF. “In our second year of Growing Home with BASF, we are incredibly inspired by each of the nominated organizations and the positive impact they are having in their communities.”
Here are the stories of the four winners:
Erskine Curling Club (Alberta) — The Erskine Curling Rink was built in 1953 and is the heart of the Erskine community. The Curling Club teaches curling lessons to children at Erskine School as part of their PE lessons and is run by volunteers from members of the Curling League. We also support the local Erskine 4-H Beef Club and provide space for the club to run its meetings. The curling club is in need of major renovations to keep the building operational and thriving for future generations.
St. Jean-Baptiste Volunteer Fire Department (Manitoba) — The Saint-Jean Fire Department is a volunteer-based fire department dedicated to protecting the community and surrounding areas during emergencies. They are also very active in the community, volunteering at numerous events including the annual Saint-Jean ATV Derby, one of Canada’s largest off-road rallies. Fire departments currently face the pressing challenge of replacing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that have lost their certification. He will receive $25,000 through BASF’s Growing Home, which will help the department purchase new units to continue serving the community.
Abbey Curling Club (Saskatchewan) — The Abbey Curling Club was founded decades ago and is the hub of winter activities for the rural community of Abbey in southwestern Saskatchewan. Citizens of all ages look forward to the winter rink as a place to socialize and be active. The club offers regular league curling, youth clinics, after-school programs, 4-hour playdowns, and various bonspiels during the winter months. Unfortunately, during the 2023-2024 season, the compressor failed and required extensive repairs. Funding from Growing Home with BASF will support the club’s plans to complete the renovation by autumn 2024.
Three Oaks Respite Cabin (Ontario) — Three Oaks Cabin was founded in 2022 following the sudden and tragic death of Dulles Bergsma, a proud farmer and volunteer first responder in a rural Ontario community. Three Oaks Cabin was created to provide a quiet place for farmers and first responders to escape from the stress and anxiety that comes with life. Three Oaks Cabin’s mission is to enhance and support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of individuals, primarily in the agricultural and first responder communities, who struggle with stress and anxiety.
“We’re grateful to work with growers and retail partners who are passionate about their communities, and we’re excited to give back to this year’s BASF Growing Home finalists,” said LaRush. It shows how important these organizations are to the foundation of our rural and farming communities. As a committed partner in agriculture, we are proud to help these communities grow and thrive through programs such as BASF’s Growing Home with BASF. ”
