The North Thompson Communities Foundation (NTCF) operates in the North Thompson Valley providing a pathway to support and address social challenges and inequalities while focusing on improving the well-being of residents throughout the valley and surrounding areas.
Founded in 2001, the NTCF began to service the North Thompson Valley communities from McLure to Blue River. The NTCF awards grants to non-profit organizations, groups and societies for a variety of purposes, activities and programs, as well as bursaries.
Volunteers are always welcome and there are a number of options for donating in perpetuity through the foundation.
Following the passing of Bill and Mary Redman, long-time residents of Clearwater living in the valley for 61 years, the family wanted to make a lasting contribution in their memory.
Bill passed away in Clearwater at 83 years of age in 2005 and Mary passed away a number of years later in February of 2017. In 2017 the family donated $10,000 to the NTCF for an ongoing scholarship or bursary to be given out to a student at Clearwater Secondary upon graduation with the designation of it going to someone who was pursuing a career in forestry, silviculture, botany, agriculture, horticulture, entomology, biology, zoology or a related fields.
Son, Errol Redman, recently talked to Black Press about the donation.
“When our parents passed away, we decided to put some of the inheritance funds towards a bursary as a legacy in memory of our parents and that was handled through the North Thompson Communities Foundation who set up the agreement,” he said. “It is called the Redman Family Bursary. I’ve had the honour of presenting it a few times and my daughter also presented on behalf of our family as well. In recent years a representative from the foundation has taken that over to present on our behalf.”
Redman added that the amount of the bursary each year has been $1,000 over a 10-year span and he’s been impressed with how the foundation contributes to so many important organizations and individuals in the valley.
“The students make an application to the foundation bursary and scholarship committee, and they vet the applications and consult with me before graduation to make a choice for the recipient. It’s a nice way to honour our parents’ memory while contributing to the future of a student,” Redman said.
Errol and Noreen Redman welcomed the opportunity to share their experience in working with the NTCF and their 10-year donation has few years left to contribute to the bursary for a Clearwater Secondary School student.
There are a number of ways to donate and you can learn more via the foundations website at: https://www.ntcommunitiesfoundation.com/
Application for grants can be made in the spring of each year and the newly established Environmental Grant applications are also open in the spring. You can download the applications via the website to be printed and mailed to the North Thompson Communities Foundation, Box 121, Clearwater, B.C. V0E 1N0
If you are interested in volunteering with the NTCF feel free to contact them at ntcommunitiesfoundation@gmail.com or call Sandy Wetterstrom: 250-674-3774