Community Connections: Rich Lake Recreation & Agricultural Society

Located in the heart of the Lakeland region, the Rich Lake Recreation & Agricultural Society is a non-profit organization serving the communities of Lac La Biche, Bonnyville, Glendon, Mallaig, St. Paul, and Cold Lake.

They’re taking full advantage of our complimentary internet donation, and we’re delighted to hear how our Community Connections program has helped them shine. 

What’s your mission, purpose, and passion as an organization?

Our purpose is to build the community in the Lakeland Region. We do this through services, activities, and facilities that encourage residents, merchants, government, and other volunteer organizations to participate together. At Rich Lake Recreation & Agricultural Society, we improve agriculture and quality of life through member and community participation. We also tap into programming to enhance leadership based on the needs of our residents.

How has MCSnet’s donation and complimentary internet connection left a positive impact on your organization?

We’ve been fortunate to have MCSnet’s high-speed internet service since the fall of 2021. We needed a connection installed quickly due to being selected as a polling station during the federal election. We were impressed that MCSnet was able to come on very short notice to install services and get us up and running in time for not just the federal election, but also the municipal election. The complimentary rural internet has helped our small organization during a difficult time when we haven’t been able to host as many of our events due to the pandemic. 

Why are you enthusiastic about helping Albertans?

We love that we’re able to provide a facility that follows in the footsteps of our founders, by staying true to our values and community spirit. 

In what ways has the internet opened up opportunities for your organization?

Having the high-speed internet at our hall assists us to run our regular meetings more efficiently. Recently, we were even able to have our first meeting virtually. We were able to have our accountant join us via Zoom and we were pleased with how fast our rural internet connection was. We also have an active Facebook page that allows us to feature the wide range of events that we host.

Can you tell us your favourite story about how you’re making a difference?

We enjoy being able to provide great events all through the different seasons. Besides our hall being available to rent for different celebrations, we also have our indoor riding arena for roping practice and youth gymkhana. We’re also excited to be hosting community farmers’ markets soon. 

What does making real connections in your community mean to you?

Making connections in our community means being able to honour the spirit of our founders and instill a strong sense of heritage and giving in the next generation. By emphasizing volunteering and offering a wide variety of experiences, we ensure the future of our region lives on and remains vibrant. Being a community built on neighbours and common interests has really grown our organization. 

If you had one piece of advice for organizations looking to improve connection in rural Alberta, what would it be?

Be active and always explore new activities to keep your community engaged. It has been a bit more difficult throughout the pandemic to have some of our traditional events with larger gatherings, such as the annual horn show, but it has also made us more creative. Over the past year, we’ve been able to keep our riding arena active, and concentrate on outside activities. 

What kind of future do you imagine for rural Alberta?

We see rural Alberta becoming more of a choice for those who are from an urban centre. We’re excited to see an influx of new people that are choosing to live near the many lakes in the Rich Lake area. 

Help Us Build a Strong Alberta with Community Connections

Technology brings us together. If you’re a non-profit that needs access to wireless internet, we want to help! Find out how our Community Connections program works, and apply for funding today.