After two decades of elaborate fundraising galas, the Niverville Heritage Centre is scaling back to a less formal event. On October 21, the Heritage Centre atrium will play host to 150 friends and supporters of the aging-in-place complex.

“One of the things we want to do this year is to keep it a bit more intimate but still bring together the community,” says executive director Ron Parent. “We’re not making it about the fundraising but [rather] about celebrating our successes.”

As in previous years, guests of the event will enjoy a multi-course meal prepared by the facility’s Red Seal chef. This year’s keynote speaker is longtime Heritage Centre proponent Ben Sawatzky.

Sawatzky spent some of his formative years in Manitoba before relocating to Alberta. According to Parent, he was one of the early visionaries behind the aging-in-place dream that became the Niverville Heritage Centre. Member of his family have enjoyed the services provided by the Heritage Centre over the years.

Sawatzky was also the first guest speaker to take the stage at the Heritage Centre’s original fundraising gala in the mid-2000s.

Since that time, he has experienced notable business success of his own in the lumber industry and has, in turn, made it his life mission to share the wealth. He and his wife founded a private Christian school in Alberta as well as the Ben Sawatzky Foundation, known for its many philanthropic contributions across Canada and beyond.

Today, the Heritage Centre is championed by many other businesses and individuals across southeastern Manitoba. Their support is integral to the facility’s ongoing success.

“We’ve got discounted tickets for those who live within our campus,” Parent says. “That was one of our goals. How do we make it more inclusive to those who really benefit from what we do?”

This affordable entry is thanks to donations from local businesses like YGP, Niverville Credit Union, Steinbach Credit Union, Wm. Dyck & Sons, Red River Group, EPIC IT Solutions, Bristal Hauling, Marquis Hospitality, the Town of Niverville, MCW Engineering Consultants, Ben Sawatzky Electric, Cardinal Health Care, and Winnipeg Building and Decorating.

Together they’ve already contributed approximately $35,000 toward this year’s fundraising goal of $87,000.

All donations received from the event have been earmarked for three important projects this year.

“One thing that we’ve realized after 13 years in the PCH is that the lighting needs to be improved to align with the new building standards for these facilities,” says Parent. “We want to really brighten up the space and make it easier for residents to see their environment. But there’s also a safety piece. We know that poor eyesight can contribute to falls.”

This will be a multiyear project, he says, beginning with the common rooms, then the hallways, and finally the individual suites.

The second goal is to introduce a 3D interactive virtual game to the PCH, allowing residents to play games using hand movements rather than game controllers.

Finally, with a growing campus comes a growing need for greater refrigeration and freezer space for their in-house kitchen.

Tickets for the banquet will be available on the Heritage Centre’s website and can be purchased as either a single spot or a table for eight.

In early October, supporters can also help out by participating in an online 50/50 draw. QR codes will be displayed on the website as well as around the campus.

At the banquet, at least one exciting prize will be auctioned off.

“One of our IT specialty firms has donated four tickets to Disney on Ice in their box suite,” Parent says. “It’s about a $2,000 package.”