The Winnipeg Foundation has joined the rally to preserve Upper Fort Garry, with a commitment of $500,000 from its Community Building Fund. The grant, which will be made to Friends of Upper Fort Garry over five years, was approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors earlier today.

"Upper Fort Garry is a critical site in our community's history," says Richard Frost, Chief Executive Officer of The Winnipeg Foundation. "We have a unique opportunity to ensure that it is preserved and protected for upcoming generations. If we do not act now, this heritage landmark may be lost forever."

Built in 1832, Upper Fort Garry acted as an administrative and economic centre for 50 years, before it was torn down in 1883. Surviving is the Governor's Gate, situated on a small piece of land on Main Street near Broadway.

The Friends of Upper Fort Garry, a group of community volunteers, is currently raising funds to develop a major heritage and interpretive complex on the site. The City has given the group until the end of this month to raise $3.5 million in private funds in order for the project to go ahead. Prior to this contribution, the group had raised $2.6 million and so, with approximately 3 weeks to go, there is still need to secure an additional $400,000.

"We understand that there have been about 700 donations so far and as the deadline approaches, we hope that others will rally to the cause and help preserve this important site," Frost says.

The Winnipeg Foundation's $500,000 grant will be drawn from the Community Building Fund, set aside by the Foundation for its Downtown Green Spaces Strategy, announced in January. Through the strategy, $3 million will be invested in downtown public amenity projects during the next five years.

The Winnipeg Foundation, Your Centre for Community Philanthropy, makes grants in support of a wide variety of charitable projects, including community service, education, healthcare, heritage, environment, arts and recreation. In 2007, these grants totaled $17.8 million and supported 680 charities. These grants are made possible by permanently endowed funds, established by people from all walks of life, generating annual investment income that supports the community.

-30-

For more information, contact:
Richard Frost, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 204.944.9474
E-mail: rfrost@wpgfdn.org