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Skip Navigation LinksEPCOR / About EPCOR / Community Investment / Heart and Soul Fund / What We Supported

​We brought the heart.
You brought the soul.

We were proud to support many great organizations bring Heart + Soul back to Edmonton.

 

    Thank you for all that you do 

 

As part of its commitment to provide $1.25 million to help uplift Edmontonians and revitalize our community, we are sharing information about Heart + Soul Fund recipients — and how Edmontonians can get involved.

 

We will continuously update this page as new funding recipients are announced until the end of 2020, or until all funding is allocated.  

Funding is being provided to help these organizations adjust to the changing landscape brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure they can continue offering world-class arts and cultural experiences that inspire and delight Edmontonians.

Arts programs

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Play the Fool Festival - Occurred September 24 – 26, 2020 Edmonton Musical Theatre - ​September 2020 – March 2021 SISTER: An Interactive Mystery - October 2 – 10, 2020 2020 Edmonton Comedy Festival - October 14 – 17, 2020 Schmoozy 2020 - ​October 21 – 30, 2020 Welcome Home - ​October 23, October 30, and November 6, 2020 Punctuate! Playwrights' Circle - October 2020 Downtown Live - Fall/Winter 2020 A Christmas Carol - Mid-December Art Gallery of Alberta Education On-Line/AGA Live - Runs throughout the 2020-2021 school year The Works Community Gateways - Program launched Oct.22 Wild Rose Scenas - Dates to be announced YEG in Motion - Fall 2020 through to spring 2021 Varscona Theatre Reopening and Digitization - Program launched in October GeriActors Friends Audio Plays - November 2020 - June 2021 The Shadow Theatre: EPCOR Readings - November 15, 2020 - May 30, 2021 Theatre Network Book Club - December 1 - March 31, 2020
Play the Fool Festival - Occurred September 24 – 26, 2020

Hit That Jive Productions creates opportunities for dance and theatre artists to develop their craft and perform their work. Its largest project is the annual Play the Fool Festival, which presents clown theatre and physical comedy performances. The Heart + Soul Fund supported an online edition of the festival. For more information, visit playthefool.ca.

Edmonton Musical Theatre - ​September 2020 – March 2021

Edmonton Musical Theatre offers performances and high-quality instructional programs out of the Woodcroft Community Hall. The Heart + Soul Fund will help the organization adhere to health guidelines and implement safely protocols which will enable them to continue program development and rehearsals for the new season. For more information, visit edmontonmusicaltheatre.com.

SISTER: An Interactive Mystery - October 2 – 10, 2020

The Fox Den Collective is an entirely female-run Edmonton theatre collective specializing in highly interactive and site-specific work that celebrates areas around the city. In partnership with the non-profit Theatre Yes, and through support from the Heart + Soul Fund, the theatre collective developed an all-new, interactive mystery play in which audience members participate as detectives via Zoom. For more information, visit thefoxdencollective.weebly.com.

2020 Edmonton Comedy Festival - October 14 – 17, 2020

Taking place at venues across the city, the Edmonton Comedy Festival stages world-class shows while supporting local talent. Funding provided by EPCOR will help ensure the show can go on with additional measures in place to protect festival goers. For more information, visit atbcomedy.com.

Schmoozy 2020 - ​October 21 – 30, 2020

Latitude 53 Society of Artists is one of the largest and oldest artist-run centers in the Canadian Prairies, and serves as a major center for contemporary art. The annual Schmoozy fundraiser supports artists to create exhibitions that are free and open to the public. EPCOR's support will help the event adapt its in-person programming and develop new, online opportunities. For more information, visit latitude53.org.

Welcome Home - ​October 23, October 30, and November 6, 2020

Teatro La Quindicina is presenting a series of variety/concert events to bring people back to the Varscona Theatre in Edmonton. Through support from the Heart + Soul Fund, the "Welcome Home" events will merge music, comedy, and a few surprises to reintroduce the local community to the theatre and restore confidence by making live events safer to enjoy. For more information, visit teatroq.com.

Punctuate! Playwrights' Circle - October 2020

Punctuate! Theatre helps provide exposure for local Edmonton artists and focuses on telling stories with Indigenous themes. With help from EPCOR, Punctuate! Theatre is launching Edmonton's largest emerging playwrights' circle for 14 artists to hone their craft and develop their theatrical works. For more information, visit punctuatetheatre.com.

Downtown Live - Fall/Winter 2020

The Heart + Soul Fund will also help extend Downtown Live, an initiative created by the Downtown Business Association to draw visitors and promote business in downtown Edmonton. The initiative will directly fund artists to perform live at local businesses, fostering vibrancy, culture and connection in the heart of our city. An event schedule and further details can be found at edmontondowntown.com.

A Christmas Carol - Mid-December

With support from the Heart + Soul Fund, the Citadel Theatre is developing an online musical production of its annual holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. The virtual production will go live in mid-December and run throughout the month. Funding for A Christmas Carol is in addition to EPCOR's sponsorship of the Citadel's Horizon Series, which shared conversations between BIPOC theatre industry leaders and the Citadel Associate Artist team: Helen Belay, Tai Amy Grauman, and Mieko Ouchi. For more information, visit citadeltheatre.com.

Art Gallery of Alberta Education On-Line/AGA Live - Runs throughout the 2020-2021 school year
​The Art Gallery of Alberta is re-imagining its education programs into online content, digital learning capsules and mobile studio projects. The project will give teachers and schools access to tools and programs to connect their students to AGA exhibitions, artists, workshops and performances. The Heart + Soul Fund will be used to hire staff, pay artists' fees for content development, and upgrade technology. For more information, visit youraga.ca.
The Works Community Gateways - Program launched Oct.22
​The Works is bringing a giant, arched gateway installation to downtown. The temporary mural structure will be animated with workshops and invitations to add to the artwork, as well as opportunities to meet the artist. EPCOR's support of this installation will help support 20 to 30 artists and craftspeople. For more information visit theworks.ab.ca.  
Wild Rose Scenas - Dates to be announced
​Edmonton Opera is creating a new digital chamber opera, called Wild Rose Scenas, which addresses mental health. The work will address the stigma, effects, and healing of mental health issues in our community, giving voice, through words and music to those suffering from mental health issues and initiating dialogue in the wider community through the digital performance and associated events. For more information, visit edmontonopera.com.
YEG in Motion - Fall 2020 through to spring 2021
​Ballet Edmonton will film short ballet pieces in a variety of iconic spaces in Edmonton. The pieces will be shared digitally throughout the fall and winter. They will also film adapted outreach ballet classes as an alternative to the in-person classes normally provided to children in need and seniors with cognitive impairment. The Heart + Soul Fund will support filming and production. For more information, visit balletedmonton.ca.
Varscona Theatre Reopening and Digitization - Program launched in October
​With help from the Heart + Soul Fund, the Varscona Theatre will implement increased safety measures and reopen its doors for live performances. Funds will also help support the purchasing of video equipment in order to offer shows online and conduct virtual fundraising initiatives. The equipment will be made available to the four resident theatre companies that call the Varscona home. For more information, visit varsconatheatre.com.
GeriActors Friends Audio Plays - November 2020 - June 2021
​GeriActors and Friends (G&F) unites seniors and younger generations through performer-created play development. With staff and technology support from the Heart + Soul Fund, G&F is developing four original audio plays to perform virtually over Zoom, telephone networks and potentially radio. This project engages seniors at a time when many are isolated. For more information, visit geriactors.ca.
The Shadow Theatre: EPCOR Readings - November 15, 2020 - May 30, 2021
​Edmonton New Shadow Theatre Society is presenting in-person, COVID-safe reading events, including two new plays and one performance of excerpts of plays in development. The three events feature 15 artists and no admission fees. For more information, visit shadowtheatre.org.
Theatre Network Book Club - December 1 - March 31, 2020
​Theatre Network is presenting a new way to get Canadian theatre in front of audiences this winter: Theatre Network's Book Club. While attending live theatre is still difficult, this book club will turn audiences into theatre readers, and facilitate discussion with a selection of local playwrights in online sessions throughout the winter. More information is coming soon to theatrenetwork.ca.

​Charitable programs

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Hope for the Hungry Radiothon - October 7 - 8, 2020 Laughs over Lunch - October 8, 2020 Edmonton Public Schools Foundation Fall Fundraiser - To be announced The Box (To End Gender-Based Violence) - Public launch Nov.1, fundraising event on Nov.26 EPCOR Creative Connections Initiative - Ongoing from October - March 21 2020 YWCA Rose Campaign: Activisim Against Gender-Based Violence - Series from Nov.25-Dec.10; Virtual Rose Campaign event on Dec.4 Make the Season Kind campaign - Decemer 10-17
Hope for the Hungry Radiothon - October 7 - 8, 2020
​The Hope Mission is helping to bring "Hope for the Hungry" through its annual fall fundraiser, which is aimed at raising enough to serve more than 42,000 meals. Through the Heart + Soul Fund, EPCOR matched $25,000 in donations during the Yards for Hope Radiothon on CISN 103.9 on October 7 and 8, which helped inspire more people to give. Donations can continue to be made online at hopemission.com/radiothon.
Laughs over Lunch - October 8, 2020
​Terra Center, which supports pregnant and parenting teens through programs that help build parenting skills while overcoming life challenges, is making use of the Heart + Soul Fund to deliver its first-ever virtual event. Laughs Over Lunch (LOL) on October 8 will feature a live improv show by Rapid Fire Theatre, a delicious meal and a gift bag filled with local delights. Learn more at terracentre.ca/lol.
Edmonton Public Schools Foundation Fall Fundraiser - To be announced
​The Edmonton Public Schools Foundation is finding new ways to engage prospective donors while addressing challenges with traditional fundraising as a result of the pandemic. Watch foundation.epsb.ca for an announcement regarding its end-of-year fundraiser, featuring an opportunity to double the impact of donations through matching funds from the EPCOR Heart + Soul Fund. EPCOR is also helping to offset the Foundation's new fundraising costs, so donations can go directly to supporting kids in the classroom.
The Box (To End Gender-Based Violence) - Public launch Nov.1, fundraising event on Nov.26

​The Alberta Council of Women's Shelters has developed the "Leading Change Expansion Pack," which includes local artwork, activities, exercises, experiences and more. With support through the Heart + Soul Fund, some 1,000 boxes will be distributed over the next three months to spark dialogue, education, and engage men in helping bring about a change in culture to end violence against women. For more information, visit acws.ca.

EPCOR Creative Connections Initiative - Ongoing from October - March 21
The Nina Haggerty Center for the Arts serves adults with developmental disabilities. EPCOR funding will support increased studio time for the center's 230 artists by increasing staffing hours and helping to build a "virtual art studio." The new studio will enable the filming of art classes and the creation of art kits that will be sold to the public, helping to foster a sustainable fundraising stream. For more information, visit thenina.ca.
2020 YWCA Rose Campaign: Activisim Against Gender-Based Violence - Series from Nov.25-Dec.10; Virtual Rose Campaign event on Dec.4
​Starting November 25, YWCA Edmonton will host a number of online events throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, including a speaker's series and a live virtual Rose Campaign event taking place on December 4. EPCOR is supporting the Rose Campaign to raise funds to provide trauma-informed mental health programming and advocacy. For more information, visit ywcaofedmonton.org.
Make the Season Kind campaign - Decemer 10-17
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From December 10 – 17, CBC's Make the Season Kind campaign, in support of Edmonton's Food Bank will raise funds and collect donations of frozen turkeys to help feed those in need over the holiday season. EPCOR's Heart + Soul Fund will help to match cash donations during the campaign. For more information, visit edmontonsfoodbank.com.

​Recreational programs

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DARK at Fort Edmonton Park - October 1 - 31, 2020 TELUS World of Science - Edmonton - Ongoing Zoominescence at Edmonton Valley Zoo - December 2020
DARK at Fort Edmonton Park - October 1 - 31, 2020
​With support from the Heart + Soul Fund, the Fort Edmonton Management Company has transformed its annual DARK event into a month-long festival offering both in-person and virtual experiences. DARK, which started October 1 and runs until October 31, offers audiences a number of spooky thrills and chills, sure to get hearts racing. Visit fortedmontonpark.ca/dark for details.
TELUS World of Science - Edmonton - Ongoing
​TELUS World of Science – Edmonton has launched a variety of virtual school programs to keep our community connected to engaging science education. Through support from the Heart + Soul Fund by EPCOR, a new production studio will be created at the science center to support live-streamed field trips for students learning from school or from home. For more information, visit telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca.
Zoominescence at Edmonton Valley Zoo - December 2020
​The Valley Zoo Development Society raises funds and awareness to continue development of the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Zoominescence is the Society's primary annual fundraiser. For the past several years, EPCOR supported Zoominescence, an outdoor holiday light tradition. This year, EPCOR is increasing its investment to ensure the tradition continues. The Heart + Soul Fund, will support the 10 artists who contribute to the festival. For more information on Zoominescence, which starts December 2020, visit buildingourzoo.com/events/zoominescence.

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