How casino volunteer night proceeds benefit our community

Every 18 to 24 months, Cambrian Heights is awarded two volunteer days at a casino event through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). In return, our community typically receives more than $70,000 in funding—money that plays a major role in keeping our programs, events and facilities running.

The Province sets the rules for how casino proceeds can be used. One key use is offsetting certain operational expenses. On average, our operating and administrative costs total roughly $100,000 a year. This includes utilities, groundskeeping, maintenance, insurance and office expenses.

In 2024, community programs such as yoga, ice rinks and social events added another $10,000 in costs.

To cover these expenses, we rely on revenue from hall rentals, memberships, event fees and, importantly, casino proceeds. Edelweiss Preparatory School, an early education program that has called our community home for 38 years, is our largest rental partner.

Here’s how our 2024 revenues broke down:

• Casino proceeds: 43%

• Rental income: 45%

• Memberships: 4.5%

These details are always reviewed at our AGM and posted online for transparency.

Enhancing Facilities and Community Spaces

Casino funds don’t just help with day‑to‑day operations, they help us improve community spaces too.

In recent years, these proceeds have helped pay for:

• Ice rink seating

• Equipment for maintaining the rinks

• A fireplace and hockey nets

• A new hall event sign

• The community hall’s exterior mural

These upgrades allow us to maintain a healthy reserve fund while continuing to improve our hall and outdoor spaces. Some of these funds, along with City and Provincial grants, will support a major two‑summer upgrade to the Community Hall’s HVAC system to meet current City air‑flow standards.

Making Community Events Possible

AGLC rules also allow casino funds to support programs where no fees are charged. This enables us to host many of the free or low‑cost events residents enjoy each year, including:

• The Polar Party

• Film nights

• Lego contests

• Free pumpkin giveaway

• Spring Bicycle Maintenance Workshop

• Community Cleanup

• Trivia Night

• Volunteer Appreciation Reception

• Outdoor concerts

• Ceilidh dances

• Other family‑friendly social events

The only thing limiting our ability to offer more events is volunteer capacity. Some beloved past events including the Stampede Breakfast and Fall BBQ were paused simply because we didn’t have enough people to help run them. We’re always looking for volunteers. If you have time to help support events like these, please email president@cambrianheightscommunity.com.

Our hall also supports low‑cost third‑party programs like weekly yoga, Scottish dancing and square dancing.

Growing Community Services: The Farmers Market

In 2025, we launched our first Farmers Market. It was a huge success thanks to a local resident experienced in market operations. Its popularity led to a winter indoor market in 2026, running biweekly, with plans to return outdoors weekly by late May (weather permitting).

While the primary goal is to serve our residents, the market has also turned a modest profit. This revenue helps cover casino‑eligible expenses and frees up casino funds for new programs and projects.

What’s Coming Next

Several new initiatives are moving forward, pending City approvals:

• A community identification sign in the volunteer‑maintained park at Northmount Drive and Cambrian Drive

• New structures in the Off‑Leash Park on 32nd Avenue to improve usability

• A future heated storage building for ice‑maintenance equipment on City‑leased land

AGLC rules require casino funds to be used only on leased lands for which the Community Association is responsible.

Thank you volunteers!

Casino funding is vital to keeping our Community Hall and facilities thriving. But making full use of these resources depends on resident volunteers—both for casino shifts and for organizing programs and events.

Board members continue to explore new ideas while balancing our role as the community’s liaison on development, traffic, safety and planning issues. We always welcome fresh ideas from residents. Thanks to careful financial stewardship, we have the flexibility to try new things.

If you’d like to learn more or share your thoughts, we invite you to attend a Board meeting or join us at our Annual General Meeting on June 18. Your input helps shape the future of Cambrian Heights.