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Lacombe residents recognized as most charitable in Alberta

Tradition of generosity and volunteerism has produced outstanding local citizens
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Black Press File Photo

According to ATB Financial’s Economics and Research Team, using the latest Statistics Canada data, Lacombe residents rank the highest in personal giving to charities for the sixth year in a row.

“With median per donor giving at $1,000 in 2017, residents of the central Alberta community give more than twice the provincial average of $480 per donor,” states the article, posted February 12, 2019, on The Owl (www.atb.com/theowl).

“Lacombe’s charitable giving is a well known, well established fact,” said Deputy Mayor Don Gullekson. “We have a strong tradition of generosity and volunteerism in our community. Our residents are engaged and aware of the myriad of issues facing our region, and indeed the world, and want to do their part to alleviate suffering.”

This tradition of generosity and volunteerism has produced outstanding local citizens like the Alberta Order of Excellence recipient Eric Rajah, the co-founder of A Better World, a Lacombe based, volunteer- run aid organization that delivers invaluable, life-changing support to people in need around the world.

Justice Gaylene Kendell, Edmonton’s newest Queen’s Bench Justice, is from Lacombe. She has a long history of volunteering with several different organizations in central Alberta.

Stephen Schultz, the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Citizen of the Year is a multiple award-winning educator at Lacombe Composite High School, who has pioneered several environmental initiatives at the school. This has led to it being co-named as Canada’s Green School in Canada in 2018.

“Our residents are compassionate and have strong community spirit, which greatly enhances the quality of life in our city,” said Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Goudy. “This is why Lacombe consistently ranks among the best places to live in the country.”

-Submitted by the City of Lacombe