Nutrien donates $3 million to Wanuskewin capital campaign
- NC Raine | July 19, 2018
Wanuskewin Heritage Park has received a donation of $3 million from Nutrien, marking largest donation to Wanuskewin as part of their Thundering Ahead campaign.
Announced July 18th at Wanuskewin, the agricultural company affirmed their commitment to the past, present, and future of one of Saskatchewan's most significant cultural institutions.
“As a company, Nutrien believes in investing in long-term options that enrich First Nations and Metis heritage, highlighting their relationship with the land. We believe that sharing the continued story of discovery through this one-of-a-kind archeological treasure opens the doors to advancement of reconciliation,” said Lee Knafelc, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Nutrien.
“We believe that this $3 million donation (will) support and nourish a multi-faceted idea, one that connects this land to the diverse cultural, spiritual, historical, and ecological resiliency of the people who were here and are still here today,” said Knafelc.
The $3 million donation from Nutrien brings Wanuskewin’s Thundering Ahead campaign within $9 million of their fundraising goal. The national capital campaign was just launched in February 2017.
“Nutrien has been partnered with us since day one,” said Candace Wasacase-Lafferty, Chair of Wanuskewin’s Board of Directors. “Wanuskewin is deeply grateful for their generosity as a company, their commitment to our community.”
“For every major initiative or project to succeed, it needs champions,” added Felix Thomas, co-chair of Thundering Ahead. “(This donation from) Nutrien shows the way for other companies to take a chance on us.”
As Wanuskewin draws near to achieving their fundraising goal, members of the Thundering Ahead team are now looking forward to putting these donations to work.
“We’re on a trip to hopefully bring a UNESCO World Heritage site (to Wanuskewin),” said Wayne Brownlee, co-chair of the campaign. “Wanuskewin has always been, and will forever be, a meeting place for everybody.”
Brownlee said the team is now moving into an execution mode, with digging to begin shortly.
“Hopefully within two years, the majority of this spend will be done and we will have transformed this location into a place that will have longevity into the future and a continuation of the story of Wanuskewin,” said Brownlee.
Thundering Ahead’s vision include expansions of the existing building, elevating new exhibits and programming, introducing a herd of Plains bisons, and applying to become Saskatchewan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.