Our Community Involvement
Since our inception in October 2005, Riverside Spa has been committed to supporting both our local and global communities. Our mandate is to fully support two organizations that work to improve the lives of people in both local and global communities.
Riverside Spa had an exciting year in 2012, focusing our support on two amazing organizations: CAUSE Canada’s Birthing Hut Project and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
CAUSE Canada’s Birthing Hut Project
CAUSE Canada’s Birthing Hut Project endeavours to address the principle causes of maternal and child mortality before and after birth in two districts of Sierra Leone. The 2010 World Health Organization World Health Statistics reports that Sierra Leone’s maternal mortality is the world’s highest, 17% higher than any other country, at 2,100 per 100,000 live births. Furthermore, Sierra Leone also has one of the highest under-5 mortality rates, while 24% of newborns experience low birth-weight.In response to these staggering statistics, the Birthing Hut program hopes to create sustainable improvements in maternal and child health for Sierra Leonians.
In support of CAUSE Canada’s Birthing Hut Project, Riverside Spa saw the completion of two birthing huts, with a third scheduled for completion in 2013. Birthing huts offer safe and hygienic places for women with high-risk pregnancies to be attended and supported. Though births in Sierra Leone are encouraged to occur in clinics and hospitals many women choose to give birth at home un-attended, rather than travel to an unfamiliar clinic full of unfamiliar faces. The Birthing Huts proudly built by Riverside Spa in partnership with CAUSE Canada will provide socially familiar environments for a countless number of women to rest and wait for their deliveries. These women will also receive support, education and at least 24 hours of supervised care after giving birth from local midwives and traditional birthing attendants. In addition to this crucial, life-saving support, older children and companions are also welcomed to stay in birthing huts, thereby providing invaluable reassurance and support to women and babies at risk.
For more information about CAUSE Canada’s work, please visit:
http://www.cause.ca/projects/current
Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation
In 2012, Riverside Spa is proud to host our 4th annual day of Guilt Free Pampering in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. On Wednesday, November 28th 2012, Riverside Spa will donate 100% of the money from all services to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. We would like to thank everyone who supported our event over the past 3 years to assist the more than 75 thousand children and families helped each year by the hospital.
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is the official fundraising body for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. With funds raised for the excellence in child health and family centered care, the foundation invests in the finest:
- Child Health Programs
- Specialized Life-Saving Equipment
- Advanced Pediatric Research & Education
For more information about the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation please visit: www.childrenshospital.ab.ca
Donation Requests
Riverside Spa accepts donation requests and organizations looking for support are encouraged to submit a request via e-mail to management@riversidespa.ca. All requests will be kept on file and each November, Riverside Spa will review requests and contact organizations that we are interested in working with. For more information about our current community participation, please contact Shanna Laychuk at 403.270.7500.