Local Impact Stories
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia is proud to be supported by The Christie-Smith Fund. Their funding of our Cumberland County Project has made it possible for our organization to partner with a local family to build them a safe, decent and affordable place to call home. With their support, families can create better, affordable living conditions that lead to improved health, stronger childhood development, and the ability – and financial flexibility – to make forward-looking choices.
Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary
The CHC Auxiliary Gift Shop was very fortunate to have received several grants from The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation. The grants have enabled us to employ a student to work in our gift shop for a 9 week period during the summer months. This proved to be a very successful venture for us as well as the students who worked in our shop. Our dedicated volunteers enjoyed a summer break and the grant also provided summer employment for a student. The grants have enabled us to provide continued uninterrupted services to hospital patients, visitors, and CHC hospital employees. It has been a very positive experience.
After the School Bell Food Program
The Christie-Smith Community Fund adminsitered by the Foundation has supported the After the School Bell Food Program with a financial donation in 2021. This donation was used to purchase food items, which in turn provided food security on a weekly basis to 120 children during the school year in Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education, District 1. The After the School Bell Food Program is to respectfully provide school children with a bag of food who otherwise go hungry on the weekends. This reduces challenges associated with hunger and helps our students to thrive, excelling their potential for learning as young citizens in our community. When children have access to nutritious food, while at the same time participating in education and enriching activities, they are both drawn to constructive and safe environments while getting the fuel they need to participate fully both after school and back in the classroom the next day. The success of this program depends on the support and involvement of our community organizations, businesses, grants, and individuals to work together to meet the needs of these children in a practical way. Since the inception of After the School Bell Food Program in October 2018, the children with the financial support of the community will come to see great success for the years to come. We thank the Christie-Smith Fund for its continued support.
The Bridge Adult Service Centre
The Bridge Adult Service Centre is a day program for individuals over 21 with different abilities. Our mission: “To provide programs, services, and opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to allow them to reach their fullest potential as members of our community.” The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation has always been a huge help in funding various projects here at the B.A.S.C. in the past. In June 2021 a generous grant was received to help in creating a “Sensory” room for the client participants who attend programming and in time we hope to be able to offer the use of this room to the public. A Sensory Room is a non-pharmaceutical, multisensory philosophy of care in which sensory stimulation is used as a method of relaxation and redirection. Specifically designed for people with sensory impairment, autism, and multiple disabilities. A Sensory room provides fun, recreational, and a multi-sensory environment for people with disabilities. It provides stimulation and relaxation using smell, touch, sound, color, and light. In partnership with NSCC in Amherst, Lisa Gower and her students created the application for funding on our behalf. On behalf of the board, management, staff, and client participants of the Bridge Adult Service Centre, we would like to thank the Foundation for the grants received to assist us in continuing our goal to provide experiential learning to the persons we support.
Joggins Fossil Institute
The Christie-Smith Community Fund provided crucial community-level support when we needed it most. A not-for-profit, charitable organization, the Joggins Fossil Institute relies on a mix of government funding, earned revenue, fundraising, and donations. In a typical year, thousands visit the Joggins Fossil Centre, pay admission to the museum, join guided tours of the cliffs, and enjoy our gift shop and café. This substantial stream of earned revenue was dramatically reduced overnight as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The mission of the Joggins Fossil Institute is to be exemplary in fulfilling our responsibilities under the United Nations Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and National Heritage to protect, conserve, and present the outstanding value of the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site through research, education, and tourism. The Joggins Fossil Centre was constructed in 2008, and each year draws over 20,000 visitors from around the world. The site is also a popular destination for locals, who enjoy the site’s natural beauty and regularly use the steps on-site to access the Joggins Fossil Cliffs beach. A favorite spot for families, hikers, and locals simply taking their dog for a walk, the Joggins Fossil Cliffs beach access point is a vital piece of infrastructure for people living in Cumberland County. Adjacent to a public parking lot, the access point to the beach offers a safe and slowly graded trail to the beach steps. Visitors can then safely descend the 30-meter cliffs to the beach via a specially designed set of steps and platforms. As this access point is exposed to the highest tides in the world, and fierce winter ice conditions, the need for costly and routine maintenance is substantial. In the winter of 2021, the steps were compromised by erosion, a local engineering firm conducted an assessment, and the steps were deemed unsafe until substantial repairs could occur. The result was a reduction in access for local residents, and an added expense for the Joggins Fossil Institute at a very challenging time. Thanks to the Christie-Smith Community Fund, and the County of Cumberland, the repairs were quickly made, additional maintenance can occur, and community access to the beach has been secured. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Christie-Smith Community Fund, and we thank them for improving life for people across Cumberland County!
Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter
The Christie-Smith Community Fund has been a huge support to the LA Animal Shelter over the years. Around 2013 the shelter was able to build a beautiful walking area behind the Shelter, bordering the Nappan River – giving the staff, volunteers, and potential adopters a fun and safe area to walk the dogs. This trail was dedicated to Joan Bennett Christie and is now proudly referred to as our “Christie Trail”. Because of your generous support in 2013 we were able to get new kennels installed with proper height restrictions etc. We have placed a plaque in the Shelter recognizing the contributions of Joan Christie. In 2014, we were able to renovate the office and reception area and overhaul the tub area. This not only made these areas safer for the staff and animals, it also improved working conditions for the staff, helping to make their job easier and reduce the risk of injury. More recently, funding from the Christie-Smith Fund allowed for electrical repairs and upgrades in the Shelter. We were also able to make much-needed repairs to the dog kennels. Both of these projects were much needed as they represented potential safety hazards to pets and humans alike. We have also been able to make improvements to the cat quarantine area, to allow for easier and more effective cleaning to help stop the spread of disease. Repairs to the roof have also been made thanks to the funding of the foundation. Without such wonderful community partners, the Shelter simply could not operate. Most of our funding is through donations. We work hard every day to ensure the best possible care for all the animals at the shelter. Having the Christie-Smith Fund help with major capital projects allows us to stretch our dollars and focus on the animals in our care.
YMCA of Cumberland
The YMCA of Cumberland Childcare was a recipient of the Christie-Smith Community Fund in 2021. Using these funds, we were able to send four children and youth from Cumberland County to YMCA Camp Big Cove, allowing them the wonderful opportunity to experience overnight camps. Additionally, the receipt of this money fully subsidized YMCA of Cumberland 35 spaces at our specialty camps. Overnight camps and summer day camps give children and youth the chance to be a part of new experiences as well as develop new skills and friendships. For many people, the camp experience is not something within their budget which makes this these funds so special. Without the money from the Christie-Smith Community Fund we would not have been able to offer these opportunities to the children and youth who took part in them.
Nova Scotia Community College
“We are incredibly grateful to the Dr. and Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation for their deep commitment and care for their community. Through their continued support of NSCC students at NSCC Cumberland Campus and the NSCC Amherst Learning Centre, they are not only supporting student success, but are making a significant impact in Cumberland County and across the province. Specifically, their support of innovative projects and programs addressing food insecurity and other urgent needs that arise for students throughout their educational journey helps them reach graduation, launch meaningful careers, and contribute to the growth of their communities.” – Don McCormack, Principal, NSCC Cumberland Campus
Cumberland Health Care Foundation
The Cumberland Health Care Foundation is profoundly grateful for the support it has received from The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation. For more than a decade, funds have been provided to purchase of much-needed hospital equipment, and to support many, many health care programs and projects that benefit our patients, staffs, families and community. The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation has been instrumental in the success of our programs that support mental health & addictions, youth health, Cumberland Cancer Assistance, equipment acquisition, physician and health care professions recruitment and retention, and the Cumberland Health Care Careers Bursary. They have helped us build an onsite vegetable garden for the Mental Health Working Together program and a walking track for staff and visitors to enjoy. Our hospital, the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, and our surrounding community, have benefited from up-to-date technology, above par services, inspired programming, and improved care because of the generous and continued support we have received. The Dr. & Mrs. H.E. Christie Community Foundation’s impact has been immeasurable.
