Three Airdrie ideas are in the running to win big from the Aviva Community Fund. The Fund hands out cash awards to deserving ideas. Who wins is based on the number of votes their idea gets online. Just getting an idea accepted to be part of the competition is a BIG deal.

Liane Pinel is so excited she almost can't get the words out fast enough. Pinel has a BIG idea and that idea is now in the running for an Aviva Community Fund grant.

Pinel's idea is a design gallery for children. As she says "think "Do It Yourself" but for ART!"

  • Kids would be able to come to the gallery and sit, paint, colour, and design their own one-of-a-kind art creations, all with the help of the artists on staff. Best of all, parents, grandparents, friends would then be able to purchase personalized mugs, t-shirts, art tiles, puzzles, coasters and more with their child's art on the item. It's like art on your fridge, only better!
  • Artists would be able to come and teach their passions to the kids, whether it's street art, water colour, acrylic, pastel oils, sketching, or animation. At risk kids would benefit from these classes as it gives them a focus and something about which to be passionate.
  • Pinel says 30% of the sales from the original artwork would be donated to the parent/child's charity of choice.

If the "For the Kids, By the Kids" idea wins big, Pinel says they'll be able to push forward with finding - or building - the gallery space and hiring some staff. It's an idea that she thinks benefits the entire community.

Also vying to win your vote are the Wildrose Humane Society and the Articulate Art Gallery.

The Wildrose Humane Society would use the funds to build an animal shelter in the corridor between Airdrie and Olds. They have recently been approached with the offer of land but need funding to build the shelter itself.

Articulate Art Gallery would bring a public art gallery to Airdrie. Artists would be able to exhibit and sell their works through the gallery.

These exciting Airdrie projects need your votes. Finalists in the Aviva Community Fund contest will each win $5,000 but the winners in each category will also receive bigger prizes. The grand prize winner can win as much as $150,000! Aviva gives away $1 million each year through the fund; prizes are awarded until all $1 million is used up each year.

To vote, go to the Aviva Community Fund website and register. You can vote a maximum of 15 times during the qualifying rounds and 15 times during the semi-finals. You can only vote once per day for an individual idea. The finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges. Voting in Round 1 runs until October 15 so make sure you go vote for one, or all, of these great Airdrie ideas.