History of the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation (NQLF)

In the spring of 1996, a group of concerned citizens from the community of Nanton met to discuss the need for a “safety net” to protect local support services in the event that government funding was not available.

This group of individuals decided that a society should be established that would have the ability to raise funds to assist individuals and groups within our community. They developed mission and mandate statements and determined the geographical area to be served by the Society and submitted the necessary documents to apply for status as a registered society.

Society status for the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation was obtained on June 12, 1996.

In the fall of 1999, the Town of Nanton was re-structuring its organization and it was decided that the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation would enter into an agreement with the Town of Nanton to deliver the services for the Nanton Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program.

Also in 1999, the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation entered into an agreement with the regional Child and Family Services Authority to provide services as a Family Resource Centre.

In the fall of 2001, the Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 requested all FCSS programs within its boundaries make a presentation to Council regarding FCSS programming.

Subsequently, an agreement was developed for the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation to deliver FCSS services to the rural residents of the M.D. of Willow Creek No. 26 surrounding the Town of Nanton in addition to residents of the Town of Nanton. Thus, the Nanton and Area Family and Community Support Services program was established.

In the summer of 2016, an agreement between the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation and the M.D. of Ranchland No. 66 was signed, expanding the Nanton and Area FCSS program to include residents living with the boundaries of the M.D. of Ranchland.

Vision

To foster and sustain a thriving, caring, supportive community

Mission

To inclusively support and promote well-being for individuals, families, and communities in Nanton and area.

Mandate

The Nanton Quality of Life Foundation's mandate is to ensure that residents of the Town of Nanton and surrounding rural areas who need intervention, assistance, advocacy, skills and/or support to improve their quality of life are supported to achieve that goal. Any person residing in the community of Nanton and surrounding area are eligible to seek services from the Foundation.

Guiding Principles

● We believe all people are equal and should be treated as such.

● We believe all people have strengths to share with their community.

● We believe that working with people is the best way to build a healthy community.

● We believe the best way to serve the community is to remain autonomous and responsive to local needs and authorities.

● We believe that working in partnership is the best way to serve the community.

● We are committed to ensuring that services are provided with respect and confidentiality.

Inclusivity Statement

Pivotal to the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation’s mission is the need to embrace and value the diversity of community members which the Foundation supports and serves.

The Nanton Quality of Life Foundation recognizes and values diversity and social inclusion as underpinnings of what the Foundation stands for. We regard the diversity of people and the community as assets and recognize their contribution to the social wellness, and cultural enrichment of the Town of Nanton and surrounding rural area.

As a socially inclusive organization, the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation strives to ensure that diversity within the community is celebrated and respected. Acknowledging the uniqueness of each individual, the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation seeks to cultivate an environment that is supportive, compassionate, and encouraging to the community members it serves.

Therefore, expressions or actions that disparage an individual's or group's ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability are contrary to the mission, vision, and guiding principles of the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation.

Board of Directors

The Nanton Quality of Life Foundation operates under the governance of a very conscientious and dedicated group of volunteer Board of Directors. This group of eleven consists of eight members at large and three Council representatives. These eleven individuals are dedicated to ensuring that programming offered by the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation is of the utmost quality and is held to the highest industry standard.

The following individuals make up the current Board of Directors of the Nanton Quality of Life Foundation:

Chairperson- Sheena Taggart
Vice-Chair- Kristen Hall
Rep- Town of Nanton- David Mitchell
Rep M.D. of Willow Creek- Evan Berger
Rep M.D. of Ranchland- Cam Gardner
Director- Pam Woodall
Director- Kathryn Enns (on leave)
Director- Chelan Barnes
Director - Julie Baker
Director - Joscelyn Stangowitz

What is FCSS?

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta, and municipalities or Metis Settlements. Provincially, the FCSS Program receives its mandate from the Family and Community Support Services Act

and Regulation.

The Regulation sets out the service requirements, that a municipality or Settlement must meet to be eligible for funding. At the local level, a municipality or Metis Settlement Council chooses whether to establish a Program and enters into an agreement with the province to jointly fund the Program.

Under FCSS, communities design and deliver social programs that are preventive in nature to promote and enhance well-being among individuals, families, and communities. The programs depend on community resources, often involving volunteers in

management and delivery.

The FCSS philosophy is based on a belief that self-help contributes to a sense of integrity, self-worth and independence. The programs developed are intended to help individuals in their community to adopt healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to prevent and/or deal with crisis situation should they arise.

Hours of Operation

The Nanton Quality of Life Foundation office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am– 4:00 pm.

The office is closed on all statutory holidays.