BONNYVILLE – MD of Bonnyville council has approved a donation of $8,000 to the Ronald McDonald House to support their Winterland Invitational hockey tournament.
Oreen Skiba, provincial event senior manager for the Ronald McDonald House, had previously visited council during the Nov. 26 meeting to request funding. Skiba described the Ronald McDonald house as a “home away from home” for families travelling to the city for healthcare for seriously ill children.
“Almost 70 per cent of families live outside a city that doesn't have a children's hospital . . . It's really our friends, our co-workers, and our families that are utilizing the houses and the programs designed to reduce the financial and emotional barriers they face the day [their] child gets a diagnosis,” said Skiba.
Coun. Don Slipchuk offered his heartfelt support of the organization, and Reeve Barry Kalinski spoke about Slipchuk’s daughter being one of the first to benefit from the Ronald McDonald house.
“We're so thankful for Ronald McDonald house, and we have living proof in our area that it really matters,” said Kalinski.
Coun. Darcy Skarsen said both his kids have played in the hockey tournament.
“It's run very well. I've watched it grow - it's been great. The Ronald McDonald house is always an easy one to get behind for sure, so you’ve got my support 100 per cent,” said Skarsen.
During the Dec. 10 council meeting, Greg Sheppard, manager of Parks and Recreation, explained the event helps draw families into the Lakeland region, creating economic stimulation.
Sheppard presented administration's recommendation to “advise the Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta to apply for funding support for their Winterland Invitational event in January 2025 . . . for a sponsorship to a maximum amount of $2,000.”
Coun. Josh Crick made the motion as recommended.
Kalinski inquired into the reasoning for suggesting $2,000 and Sheppard explained that there are no funds left in council’s “Giving Budgets.”
“The earliest we can get money to them, being January, would be the new budget coming in, and that program brings us up to $2,000 maximum,” said Sheppard.
Coun. Dana Swigart and Coun. Mike Krywiak commented on how many people the event brings to the area and the economic stimulation, and suggested an increased donation, which Slipchuk agreed with.
“It brings a lot of people to the area, but the big factor is it helps a lot of local families as well,” said Slipchuk. He added that the Ronald McDonald house is trying to expand the number of houses it has, as the demand for the service is already over capacity.
Crick withdrew his previous motion to approve a donation of $2,000, and Fadeyiw made a new motion that stated, “Council approves the request for funding support by the Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta for their Winterland Invitational event in the amount of $8,000 to be funded from the 2025 Council giving operation budget.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
