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Introducing the Good Business of the Month: Novamen Inc.

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A few of the staff from Novamen volunteering at the Ronald McDonal House   //    Photo courtesy of Novamen Inc.  //    Novamen profile written by Ryan Charles Parker

By “good” we mean excellence in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In Red Deer and district, many businesses don’t just do well, they are doing good things for their employees and their community. It’s established knowledge that in order for businesses to succeed, alongside the attention paid to their bottom line, they need to demonstrate a caring attitude to the people within and outside the organization.

Corporate social responsibility can take many forms. For some businesses, CSR is demonstrated by giving employees paid time off to volunteer at a favourite cause. In other workplaces, employers plan a “day of giving” where everyone pitches in to raise funds through a community event or to volunteer skills and knowledge to a non-profit organization in need of their expertise. Another example is the office that engages in online giving through platforms such as Benevity.com.

However a business chooses to express its engagement with a particular charity, cause, or community issue, Volunteer Central wishes to honour the good businesses and their people who strive to make a difference while making their bottom line. In the spirit of GivingTuesday, we’d like to recognize our first recipient of the Good Business of the Month, Novamen Inc.

A business has no obligation in our society to give back to the community. Any company that does help the community does so by good intention. It’s a choice. And Novamen makes such a choice.

“Novamen is the Latin word for innovation,” explains CEO Darren Lamothe.” And we are a chemical manufacturing and distribution company, focused on the Western Canadian oil and gas, mining and industrial markets.”

But Novamen does more than just that. As President Kerri Tisdale says, “we believe that being an ethical business is not only a priority but is the foundation for the decisions we make. Businesses are incredibly impactful to our society and we are each accountable to whether our impact is positive or negative. Being ethical ensures that the focus is on positive impact.”

It is one thing to say that. Doing so is easy. It is quite another to actually back your words up with actions. Novamen does just that and its employees firmly put their money and time where their mouth is.

“Novamen has a budget for corporate donations but also a program that financially supports causes that reflect the concerns or interests of each individual employee,” Tisdale declares. “These can be sports teams, foundations or charity organizations. Novamen is grateful to work with a team that share this particular core value.”

Novamen works with many charities: they help Meals on Wheels which prepares and brings meals to those who may not be able to get out and do it themselves.

They support Ronald McDonald Houses, which provides homes for families of sick children so that their family can stay closer to the hospitals at which their kids are being treated.

They help prepare some meals for The Red Deer Warming Centre. The Centre provides a warm place for the homeless to stay instead of having to struggle in the streets, and is funded by The City of Red Deer. But lack of funds often means that the Centre cannot always provide meals. So Novamen employees take one or two days out of their month to help make and serve nutritious meals for those that are disadvantaged.

They are committed to supporting the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. They have been a Gold Sponsor of the Festival of Trees Business Luncheon since 2016.

All of this is just a brief overview of the help that Novamen does in the community. This is by no means exhaustive, as they offer support to many other causes. Everything from sponsoring sports teams to donating to Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, Novamen is a good example of a business that cares about the community. For more information about Novamen, visit  www.novamen.ca

Each month, we will feature a local business who is doing good for the community through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). If you know of a business doing good for our neighbourhoods, tell us about them at [email protected]

 

Volunteer Central strives to build a strong, connected and engaged community through volunteerism.

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Festival of Trees tickets on sale! Update from the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation

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Festival of Trees tickets are on sale now! Get ’em while they’re hot!

If you want to taste all the flavors at Festival of Wines & Spirits, experience the enchantment of Mistletoe Magic, or treat your family to a morning of fun at Festival Pajama Breakfast, it’s time to buy your tickets!

Learn all about Festival of Trees and purchase your tickets at reddeerfestivaloftrees.ca!

Red Deer Regional Health Foundation Announces Cath Lab Opening 5 Years Ahead of Schedule

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, in collaboration with AHS, is proud to announce the fast-tracked opening of a Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. With a permanent facility scheduled for completion in five years, this critical fixture will allow for care on an accelerated timeline, offering life-saving cardiac care to the residents of Central Alberta.

Manon Therriault, CEO of the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, emphasized the significance of this development. “In cardiac care, time isn’t just money—it’s muscle. The earlier patients receive treatment, the better their chances of recovery. This Cath Lab, coming approximately five years earlier than expected, could save up to 160 lives.”

The Cath Lab, which will be housed in a retrofitted space within the current hospital, will allow local cardiac patients to receive urgent care in Red Deer instead of requiring transfers to hospitals in Calgary or Edmonton. In the future, the lab will be transformed into a cutting-edge Vascular and Neurology Lab, going above and beyond the broader Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Redevelopment Project, which represents a $1.8 billion investment—the largest hospital expansion in Alberta’s history. The ability to support projects of this importance would not be possible without our donors.

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is providing financial support for the essential architectural, mechanical, and electrical upgrades. “This Cath Lab represents an immediate leap forward in improving local healthcare. We’re not waiting to make a difference in the lives of Central Albertans,” said Therriault.

“Through this Memorandum of Understanding with our Foundation partners, we’re underscoring our commitment to enhancing the cardiac care available at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” says Karen Foudy, AHS Senior Operating Officer for Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. “By establishing an interim catheterization laboratory, we will be able to provide a new service to patient’s years ahead of the completion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Redevelopment Project which will help reduce the need for cardiac patients to travel to other facilities.

This will also support our efforts to recruit and retain the talented healthcare professionals needed to provide care every day to our patients.”

Women Leading Philanthropy Event Supports Mothers Through the EMBRACE Program

On October 9th, Women Leading Philanthropy (WLP) hosted an invigorating gathering of 60

attendees, all coming together for a meaningful evening in support of the EMBRACE program.

The event highlighted WLP’s dedication to empowering women and making a difference in the

lives of those who need it most.

The EMBRACE program is a vital initiative aimed at supporting women with a history of

substance use during pregnancy. EMBRACE stands for Empowering Mothers and Families,

Mentorship, Building Healthy Relationships, Respect, Actively Listening and Learning,

Collaboration, and Engagement. At the heart of the program is a collaborative care approach,

ensuring that mothers receive comprehensive support throughout pregnancy and into the

postpartum period. The ultimate goal is to empower these mothers to be the primary caregivers

for their babies, equipping them with the tools and confidence they need to thrive.

During the evening, a guest speaker moved the audience with personal stories of her own

journey and that of another mother’s experience with EMBRACE. She shared how the program

had been a source of strength and guidance during some of the most difficult moments in their

lives, underscoring the powerful impact of community support.

As part of the fundraising efforts, EMBRACE totes—special bags given to mothers during their

stay in the hospital—were auctioned off. Each tote is filled with approximately $100 worth of

essential items for both mother and baby, including personal hygiene and comfort items, snacks,

things to pass the time in the hospital, and baby necessities like sleepers, sleep sacks, and

soothers.

Looking ahead, WLP is excited to grow its membership and continue selecting impactful causes

to support. The energy and passion shared at events like this are a testament to the power of

collective philanthropy.

Reflecting on the event, WLP member Sara Gerrard shared, “Being part of a group that

empowers women through philanthropy is incredibly rewarding. Events like ‘Connect for a

Cause’ in support of the EMBRACE program not only showcase the collective impact we can

have but also inspire us to strive for even greater change. Together, we’re making a difference,

one initiative at a time.”

With such a strong start, WLP is eager to see what the future holds as they continue to engage

in meaningful causes and strengthen their impact on the community.

VIEW OUR IMPACT REPORT

Red Deer Regional Health Foundation raises and disburses funds for programs, services, and the purchase of medical equipment for the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and other health centres in Central Alberta.

Click here to view a list of some of the equipment recently funded by our generous donors.

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First Battle of Alberta this NHL season to bring big boost to Child Advocacy Centre!

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From the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

The Edmonton Oilers MEGA 50/50 is BACK in support of three amazing organizations 💙🧡

By purchasing your Oilers MEGA 50/50 tickets today, you’re helping to support the CACAC, along with Little Warriors and Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre .

Purchase before 1PM to be eligible for all 4 early bird prizes, including a $500 Esso card, 2 PCL Loge Arkells tickets for November 1, $1000 for Alberta Beef, and $10,000 CASH!

Early Bird draws!

Buy before 1:00 for $500 Esso card

Buy before 7:00 for 2 PCL Loge Arkells tickes

Buy before 7:30 for $1,000 Alberta Beef

Buy before 8:00 for $10,000 Cash!

THANK YOU EDMONTON OILERS!

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