Growth, New Offices and a Major Bequest
A blog series by Stephen Lee, CP Alberta Board Member
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Cerebral Palsy Alberta Association (CPAA) expanded its fundraising activities, programs, facilities, and provincial connections. Several initiatives during this period provided funding for programs while also creating opportunities for people with cerebral palsy to participate in their communities.
1987 – The Great Canadian Stationary Bike Race
CPAA was a member of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Association, a national organization that included provincial cerebral palsy associations across Canada.
The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP) developed and operated the Great Canadian Stationary Bike Race (GCSBR) as a fundraising event. CPAA brought the event to Alberta in 1987.
The first Alberta race was held in Calgary at Princess Island Park. The following year, CPAA added an Edmonton race at the ACT Centre.
The races became an annual fundraising event. The Calgary race was held on the Saturday following Labour Day, followed by the Edmonton race the next Saturday.
Board members travelled between the two cities to help organize and operate the events. A Calgary team also travelled to Edmonton to participate in the Edmonton race.
As the races continued, CPAA purchased stationary bikes and equipment for the events. A partner of a CPAA staff member built stands for the bikes.
The equipment was also made available to other provincial cerebral palsy associations. The bikes and stands were lent to the Saskatchewan association for a race in Saskatoon and to the British Columbia association for a race in Vancouver.
A computer program was also developed to manage the race. The program was provided to the Saskatchewan and British Columbia associations so they could use it for their events.
The Great Canadian Stationary Bike Race became an important annual fundraising activity for CPAA and provided a way for several provincial associations to work together.
Education Bursary Program
During this period, CPAA operated a bursary program for young adults with cerebral palsy pursuing post-secondary education.
A bursary committee made up of CPAA board members reviewed applications and administered the program. The bursary provided financial assistance to students attending post-secondary institutions.
Recreation Programs
CPAA also began operating recreation programs in Edmonton and Calgary.
The programs provided adults with cerebral palsy opportunities to participate in community outings. Activities included going to restaurants, bowling, attending movies, and other recreational events.
In Edmonton, the recreation program was operated for several years by Ralph Leibo, a person with cerebral palsy.
The programs provided organized social and recreational activities for adults who wanted to participate in community activities with others.
Early 1990s – Moving Into New Offices
By the early 1990s, CPAA's staff had increased to the point where the existing classroom offices were no longer adequate.
Both the Edmonton and Calgary offices moved from surplus classroom space into commercial office locations.
The Edmonton CPAA office moved to an office building in the Glenora area. The Edmonton Cerebral Palsy Association also moved and continued to share office space with CPAA.
The two organizations maintained a close working relationship. Many members of the Edmonton Association's executive also served on the CPAA Board.
Expanding the Provincial Board
Board meetings continued to be held in Red Deer. After several years, the meeting location changed from the Red Deer hospital to a meeting room at a hotel.
The composition of the CPAA Board also expanded beyond Edmonton and Calgary. New board members joined from communities including Cold Lake and Fort McMurray.
Fort McMurray had a small local cerebral palsy association. CPAA supported the local association by bringing the stationary bikes to Fort McMurray for a fundraising race, with the proceeds going to the local organization.
1992 – A Major Bequest
In 1992, CPAA received a bequest of approximately one million dollars from an individual whose estate was distributed among ten organizations.
Other organizations named in the bequest included the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
The donor's son had cerebral palsy and was blind. Although the son was not included as a beneficiary of the estate, an agreement was reached among the ten organizations named in the bequest.
Under the agreement, each organization contributed $100,000 toward a trust established to provide income for the donor's son.
The trust provided financial support for the son during his lifetime. Following his death, the funds were to be returned to the organizations that had contributed to the trust.
The funds associated with CPAA's portion of the bequest are held through the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Calgary Community Foundation.
Around 1993 – Clothing Donation Program
Around 1993, CPAA began discussions about establishing a clothing donation program in partnership with Value Village.
The proposed program would provide another source of fundraising revenue for CPAA through donated clothing and household items.
The discussions with Value Village marked the beginning of another fundraising initiative that would become part of CPAA's ongoing efforts to support its programs and services.
Building the Organization
From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, CPAA expanded in several areas at the same time: fundraising, recreation, education, board representation, office facilities, and partnerships with local and provincial organizations.
The Great Canadian Stationary Bike Race connected CPAA with other provincial associations, while the bursary and recreation programs expanded services for young adults and adults with cerebral palsy. The move into commercial office space reflected the organization's growing staff and operations.
These developments formed part of CPAA's continuing growth as it moved into the 1990s.
