Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation

08/28/2026

A Legacy Rooted in Farming, Community and Care

The Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation is honoured to announce an extraordinary gift of $500,000 from Sunny Glen Farms Ltd., made at the direction of lifelong Vulcan area resident Cyril F. "Cy" Rebalkin.

This remarkable gift reflects one man's gratitude for the care he received, his belief in the importance of rural healthcare, and his desire to give back to the community he proudly called home.

The following tribute has been shared by the Rebalkin family.

A Legacy Rooted in Farming, Community and Care

Cyril F. “Cy” Rebalkin was a lifelong farmer, entrepreneur and proud resident of the Vulcan area. Born in Vulcan, Alberta, in 1939, he came from humble beginnings in a family that homesteaded in Vulcan County. Through more than 70 years of determination, hard work and dedication to agriculture, he built Sunny Glen Farms into a strong and respected farming operation.

Cy’s success was rooted in practical knowledge, resourcefulness and a willingness to adapt. Farming was far more than his occupation; it was his passion, his identity and his life’s work. He also understood that a thriving rural community depends on strong local services, trusted professionals and neighbours who look after one another.
During the last decade of his life, Cy faced several health challenges and received exemplary care from the doctors, nurses and staff at the Vulcan Community Health Centre and local medical clinic. Their skill, compassion and dedication allowed both him and his life partner, Minota Webster, to manage their health while maintaining a meaningful quality of life close to home.

Having access to local testing, diagnostic equipment and medical services often meant Cy could receive care without travelling to a major centre. That convenience and reassurance made an important difference to both him and his family.
Cy also recognized the important role of the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation and local volunteers in raising funds for healthcare priorities, including new equipment and expanded services such as mobile ultrasound technology and laboratory improvements.

He believed a strong rural hospital was essential to the well-being and long-term vitality of the community. It provides timely care close to home, supports families during difficult moments and helps healthcare professionals deliver the best service possible.

For these reasons, Cy chose to make a donation through Sunny Glen Farms Ltd. to support the continued work of the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation. His gift reflects his gratitude for the care he received and his desire to help ensure quality rural healthcare remains available for future generations.

On behalf of Sunny Glen Farms Ltd. and the Rebalkin family, thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff whose care meant so much to Cy. His donation is a lasting expression of appreciation for the community he called home and the people who cared for him.

Cy's gift also fulfills a vision shared by hundreds of people throughout Vulcan County.
In April 2025, the community embarked on an ambitious campaign to raise $300,000 to renovate the Palliative Care Suite at the Vulcan Community Health Centre. Over the following 15 months, residents, businesses, service clubs, volunteers, event participants, memorial donors, and community partners came together in an extraordinary demonstration of grassroots philanthropy, raising approximately $256,000 toward that goal.

With Cy's gift, the fundraising target required to move the Palliative Care Project forward has now been achieved.

This milestone belongs to the entire community. Over the past 15 months, residents, businesses, service clubs, volunteers, and donors have come together with a shared purpose. Cy's extraordinary generosity does not overshadow those efforts—it completes them, ensuring this community vision can now move forward.
In keeping with Cy's wishes, the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation will continue working alongside the community and leadership at the Vulcan Community Health Centre and the Rebalkin family to determine how the remaining funds can best strengthen local healthcare while honouring the intent of his remarkable gift.

Cy never sought recognition for this gift. His family has chosen to share his story because they believe it demonstrates something much larger than one act of generosity. It reflects what is possible when a community recognizes a need, comes together, and chooses to invest in its own future.

08/24/2026

A Little Friendly Competition Raises $2,160 for Palliative Care

Sometimes the best fundraising ideas are the simplest ones — add a little fun, a little friendly competition, and a great cause.

This summer, during the Farmers Tournament at the Vulcan Golf & Country Club, Beth Brown and Hudson Huisign of Bayer Crop Science came up with a creative way to add some fun to the day while supporting the Palliative Care Project at the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

Beth and Hudson hosted a bean bag game, inviting tournament participants to step up and test their skills. For a $10 donation, participants could take their turn at the game and have their name entered into a draw to win the bean bag game itself.
Ten dollars at a time, the donations added up.

Today, Hudson presented $2,160 raised through the activity, with every dollar donated to the Palliative Care Project.

What makes this contribution especially meaningful is the way it was raised. It wasn't a formal fundraiser or a complicated campaign. It was a fun idea incorporated into an existing community event — giving people an opportunity to laugh, compete, participate and support local healthcare at the same time.

Fundraising for the Palliative Care Project has taken many forms, and this is another wonderful example of how individuals, businesses, organizations and community members have found their own unique ways to contribute.

Our sincere thanks to Beth Brown and Hudson Huisign, and to Bayer Crop Science, for bringing some fun and creativity to the Farmers Tournament, and to everyone who stepped up with their $10 donation and gave the bean bags a toss.

Together, those small moments of generosity became an incredible $2,160 investment in palliative care in our community.

08/22/2026

08/20/2026

A Gift That Grew: Stephen Family and Masonic Community Support Palliative Care

A gift made years ago has found a meaningful purpose in supporting compassionate care close to home.

Members of the Stephen family, Vulcan Lodge No. 74 and the Palliative Care Project Committee recently gathered at the Vulcan Community Health Centre to recognize a generous $10,000 contribution to the Palliative Care Renovation Project.

The story behind the donation began several years ago when Marjorie Stephen donated $2,000 to Vulcan Lodge No. 74, leaving it to the Lodge to determine where the funds could make a meaningful difference in the community.

As the Palliative Care Renovation Project gained momentum, members of Vulcan Lodge No. 74 saw an opportunity to put Marjorie's generosity to work.

The Lodge applied to the Masonic Foundation of Alberta, requesting support for the project. The application was successful, and the Foundation contributed an additional $2,000, its maximum contribution—bringing the initial presentation to $4,000.
But the generosity didn't stop there.

As arrangements were being made for the presentation, the Stephen family decided to add another $6,000, bringing the family's and Masonic community's combined support for the Palliative Care Renovation Project to an incredible $10,000.

The cheque presentation brought together members of the Stephen family, representatives of Vulcan Lodge No. 74, including Worshipful Master Brian Conners, and members of the Palliative Care Project Committee at the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

This contribution is another wonderful example of the many ways individuals, families, service organizations and community groups have come together in support of the Palliative Care Renovation Project. Each contribution has been different, but together they have helped make an important vision for local palliative care possible.
Marjorie's original gift is particularly meaningful. Given years ago, without conditions or expectations, it was held until an opportunity emerged to make a lasting impact.

Through the efforts of Vulcan Lodge No. 74, the support of the Masonic Foundation of Alberta and the additional generosity of the Stephen family, that original $2,000 gift ultimately helped inspire $10,000 in support for local palliative care.

The Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to Marjorie Stephen and the Stephen family, Vulcan Lodge No. 74, and the Masonic Foundation of Alberta for their generosity and for choosing to support compassionate care for patients and families in our community.

It is another reminder of what can happen when community generosity, service and family legacy come together for a shared purpose.

Photo:
Standing from left to right:
Brian Conners, Shannon Horkoff, George Andrews, Shirley Spanke, Brenda Ingraham, Laurie Mehlhaff, Hugh Campbell

Seated left to right:
Janet Stephen, Marjorie Stephen, Sylvia Hunter

08/06/2026

Investing in the Future of Rural Nursing!

We’re proud to join three local healthcare foundations in a $20,000 shared investment creating the Claresholm Rural Nursing Cohort Bursary.

Through the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Nursing, rural students can earn their Bachelor of Nursing and become Registered Nurses without leaving their home communities.

The bursary will provide $1,250 annually to eligible students from each Foundation’s area, supporting those who demonstrate financial need, academic readiness and a commitment to rural healthcare.

Together, we’re investing in students, strengthening rural healthcare and helping build a healthier future close to home.

07/30/2026

Mossleigh Lions Donate $4,240 to Palliative Care Project

Sometimes the greatest acts of generosity begin with something as simple as neighbours gathering for lunch.

On July 4, 2026, the Mossleigh Lions Club welcomed members of the community to the Mossleigh Lions Park for a community lunch. Thanks to the generous support of Parrish & Heimbecker (P&H) Mossleigh, who sponsored the meal, everyone was invited to enjoy lunch by donation while visiting with friends and neighbours.
The event also featured a 50/50 draw, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting the Vulcan Community Health Centre Palliative Care Project.

On July 17, 2026, that generosity came full circle as Mossleigh Lions member Glen Tharle presented a cheque for $4,240.00 to Palliative Care Project Committee member Laurie Mehlhaff on behalf of the club.

This remarkable gift is another example of what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared purpose.

The Palliative Care Project has been driven by the belief that every person deserves comfort, dignity, and peace during life's most difficult moments. While the renovated palliative care space will serve patients and families from across our region, it has also become a testament to the generosity of rural communities.

The Mossleigh Lions join a long list of service clubs, businesses, community organizations, families, and individual donors who have stepped forward to support this important project. Together, they have demonstrated that improving rural healthcare is not the responsibility of a single organization; it is a shared commitment embraced by communities throughout our region.

We would also like to recognize Parrish & Heimbecker (P&H) Mossleigh for sponsoring the community lunch. Their generosity created an opportunity for neighbours to gather, enjoy a meal together, and raise meaningful funds for compassionate end-of-life care close to home.

To the members of the Mossleigh Lions Club, thank you for your continued commitment to serving your community and supporting healthcare. Your generosity will have a lasting impact on patients and families when they need comfort and care the most.

Every fundraiser, every volunteer, every service club, every business, and every donation—large or small—brings us one step closer to ensuring that compassionate palliative care remains close to home. Together, we are building something truly remarkable: a community that cares for one another at every stage of life.

07/19/2026

The temperatures are climbing across Vulcan County, and it's important to take a few extra precautions to stay safe.

💧 Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.
🏠 Stay indoors or in air-conditioned spaces during the hottest part of the day.
👒 Wear lightweight clothing, a hat, and sunscreen when outside.
👵 Check in on older adults, neighbours, and anyone who may be more vulnerable to the heat.
🐶 Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle.
🚜 Be mindful when operating equipment in dry grass, and properly dispose of ci******es.

06/30/2026

Leaving something that lasts.

In communities like Vulcan County, many of the things we value most are built quietly over time.

Local healthcare and services close to home are strengthened through the care of professionals, the support of volunteers, and the generosity of people who choose to give back. Often, those acts of generosity happen without fanfare — simply because someone believes in their community.

Over the years, many individuals and families have helped shape the health of this community by supporting the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation. Some give during their lifetime. Others choose to leave a gift that continues beyond them.
Jacob “Jake” Den Tuinder made that choice.

Through a legacy gift left in his estate, Jake chose to support the future health and well-being of Vulcan County. His gift now becomes part of the many contributions that help ensure care remains here for neighbours, families, and generations to come.
There is something meaningful about gifts like these. They speak not only to generosity, but to trust, trust in the future, and trust that caring for community matters.

In Canada, legacy giving offers a thoughtful way to support the causes that have meaning in your life. Many people choose to leave a portion of their estate, often the most heavily taxed portion, to a charitable organization. In doing so, they may reduce the overall tax burden on their estate while still ensuring loved ones are cared for according to their wishes.

When those gifts remain local, their impact is deeply felt. They help sustain healthcare services, improve access to care, and strengthen the well-being of the community as a whole.

Jake’s gift is now part of that continuing story.
We are grateful for his thoughtfulness and for all those whose generosity helps keep care close to home.

If you would like to learn more about leaving a legacy gift that supports local health and wellness, please contact us:
📞 403-485-4001
📧[email protected]
🌐 https://www.vchwfoundation.com/legacy-gifts-securities/

06/29/2026

🌟 2026 Wellness Challenge Silver Sponsor Spotlight 🌟

A sincere thank you to Esso for supporting the 2026 Vulcan County Wellness Challenge as a Silver Sponsor!

Community wellness is strengthened when local businesses step forward to support initiatives that encourage healthy habits, active living, and community connection. We are grateful for Esso's contribution and commitment to helping make this year's challenge a success.

Thank you for supporting a healthier, more connected Vulcan County and for helping participants on their wellness journeys throughout the month.

We appreciate your partnership! 💙