Grande Prairie families looking to access Inclusion Alberta programming could be out of luck, with the announcement that more than $500K in provincial dollars that would otherwise be used for Inclusion Alberta have been cut by the Provincial Government.
According to the organization, Grande Prairie, along with six other family associations across the province have been directly affected by the cuts. Inclusion Alberta says in the past, the now-cut funds paid for numerous Grande Prairie families to attend their events.
The cost to attend an event varies for each family; however, Inclusion Alberta Communications Coordinator Sara Protasow says many families would not have the means to attend without grants and financial support.
“This is particularly true for families from smaller communities, given travel and hotel accommodation expenses associated with attending these events in Edmonton,” she says.
Additionally, Inclusion Alberta CEO Trish Bowman says that reducing funding for these opportunities comes at a “particularly difficult” time, as the organization was looking to respond to the growing demand for service, especially as they navigate growing costs and inflationary pressures, so now, the organization will turn its efforts into preserving what it once was.
“In difficult times, the decision to cut support to those who already face significant challenges every day should be a wakeup call for all Albertans,” she says.
The full list of affected communities includes Grande Prairie, St. Paul, Wetaskiwin, Edmonton, Calgary, and Medicine Hat.
