On June 30th, 2022, the BMI Group completed a sale agreement with the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church and signed separate lease agreements with both the church and the Stratford Arts and Culture Collective (SACC) related to future use of the church property.

Last month, the McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton got a new lease on life - and a new life for its property.

When, in 2015, it was designated a heritage building for its architectural and cultural significance, the church avoided demolition, but in 2019, it found itself struggling to scrape together the $15-million needed for full restoration.

The congregation eventually settled on a plan to turn the building into a multi-faith space and community hub, with a redevelopment plan that will also include housing. Because of the scope and scale of the proposed project, the church realized they would need to partner with other organizations. To get a helping hand, they turned to the Trinity Centres Foundation, a non-profit that specializes in finding new ways to use faith spaces.

As the world changes, the non-profit and charitable social sector is adapting, and so must philanthropy. Our sector is a fundamental aspect of civil society, but reform is paramount. The status quo is not sufficient. Inequity is rampant in our communities, and there are global challenges we must step up to meet. In our new series, A Vision for the Future, PFC has asked non-profit leaders to share their understandings of where our sector is today, what its role is, and where we need to go.

Across Canada, rural communities are re-imagining lonely church buildings into vibrant community hubs.

It’s more than a massive loss for religious groups. With more than 5,000 churches expected to close in Canada in the coming decade, it’s a huge loss of infrastructure for the community-at-large.

Located in the centres of their communities, churches frequently provide a home for daycares, seniors programming and educational workshops, as well as for community groups and the performing arts. Most have spaces for both large and small gatherings, many have kitchens, and often there is outdoor space too, allowing people to gather together in all sorts of meaningful ways.

Members of the McDougall United Church and the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Edmonton Chapter will gather together on Friday, April 15, before their Good Friday service and Friday Prayers, respectively, to exchange goodwill and fellowship in recognition of their new partnership. With support from Trinity Centres Foundation (TCF), the two groups are collaborating to restore and redevelop one of Edmonton’s oldest churches, McDougall United Church, into an inclusive community hub.

On Thursday, March 24 The congregation at Knox Presbyterian Church in Stratford announced a partnership with Urbanistyc, a BMI Group company, that will preserve one of Stratford’s most historic churches. The agreement signed by both the church and developer will allow for continued use of the church by the congregation and future development of the full church site.

Bolder, faster, together poses the question: How can we all take responsibility for the past, navigate a turbulent present and co-operate to protect future generations? Follow along as this series, co-ordinated by the Transition Innovation Group at Community Foundations of Canada, explores the deep societal transformation already underway and accelerating in Canada and around the world.

Our Executive Director, Graham Singh was featured on the 41st episode of the Impact Investing Podcast hosted by David O’Leary!

Graham talks about the crisis facing churches across the country, and our approach to using impact investing as a vehicle for transforming idle church properties into thriving community hubs.