(Supplied/Mark Holloway)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

close to opening new facility

Oilers and Flames golf event a “massive success” for Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

Aug 11, 2023 | 2:49 PM

A heckuva lot of money was raised for the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) at this week’s Battle of Alberta event, held at the Red Deer Golf & Country Club.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers players and alumni (Lanny McDonald, Louie DeBrusk, Dillon Dube and many more) came out to golf and raise funds and awareness for the Red Deer-based organization, which is getting close to opening its Centre of Excellence on the campus of Red Deer Polytechnic.

While final totals are still being tabulated, a reception and player auction on Tuesday raised nearly $800,000, shares Dylan Rambow, Communications Coordinator, CACAC.

“The third edition of this event was a massive success. The weather held out, we were excited to have our reception at Bo’s Bar and Stage this year, and their team was amazing. We were over the moon about all of it,” says Rambow. “Support comes from the Flames and Oilers, as well as their community foundations, alumni groups, and the community. This event will have made a big difference.”

How it will make a big difference is by supporting the various objectives of the CACAC, from the completion of its facility to an array of programming, all of which is related to ensuring kids have access to help in situations of child abuse.

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“With this money, we will ensure kids have access to wraparound supports, court support, support for forensic interviews, and other materials,” says Rambow. “Eagle Builders and their contractors are giving it their absolute all to make sure we can open on time.”

A grand opening date has not yet been set, but it is close to moving in time, he says. The $23 million facility’s third floor — where the CACAC will be, is nearly complete.

The second floor, to be used by a number of other agencies, is close, and the first floor, which is reserved for Alberta Health Services, is the busiest part of the building currently.

Of the $23 million needed, $12 million will have come from public fundraising. The organization had close to $10 million prior to the Battle of Alberta, and von Rambow says it’s those funds which will get them open and operating.

The remaining $11 million will come from private contributions. The province previously committed over $3 million for utility and infrastructure hook-ups.

“Players who’ve come out to our event in the past have said it was a real battle of Alberta, one versus the other,” says Rambow. “But with an event like this, they can now come together and have it be a cooperative thing. It’s a much more playful atmosphere and everyone knows it’s about showing up at the table together to help the cause.”

The Battle of Alberta garnered more than 100 sponsors, including BIG105, 106.7 REWIND Radio and rdnewsNOW.

To learn more about the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, visit centralalbertacac.ca.

READ MORE: New child advocacy centre on target to open in August 2023

READ MORE: Battle of Alberta 2021

READ MORE: Battle of Alberta 2018