Get Involved and Make a Difference!

Are you looking to meet new people, get involved in your local community, and make a difference for those in need?

The BCO Board is currently looking to fill a few key volunteer positions in the communities we serve:

• Director (Okotoks/Foothills)
• Director (Lethbridge)

If you or someone you know has that special spark to put a little more kindness into the world, drop us a line at bcohelp@hotmail.com. We can't wait to meet you!

BCO's 2021 Movie Night Fundraiser at High River Sunset Drive-In

BCO just wrapped up our second annual movie night fundraiser at the High River Sunset Drive-In! This year's double feature was fun for the whole family, with 'Frozen' followed by 'Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom. The Sunset is a fantastic local venue where a portion of the proceeds always goes to local charities, and we are blessed to be included among the foothills nonprofits they support. 

BCO Volunteers Man the Box Office

As always, a huge BCO thank you goes to our wonderful team of volunteers who helped us take tickets, park cars and generally ensure everyone had a great time! These events would not be possible without the helping hands of our volunteers- and even with rain threatening the evening turned out beautifully this year. 

Stay Tuned: Our Next Movie Night TBD Summer 2022

Stay tuned until Summer 2022 for our next movie night fundraiser at the Drive-In! In the meantime check out some of the other awesome flicks coming to the Sunset and enjoy that feel-good glow of supporting local charities while you enjoy a classic movie night under the stars!

Building Mental Health Awareness and Breaking Down Stigma in Rural Alberta

Since launching in February 2021 as an innovative mental health initiative aimed at helping the incredible folks behind small businesses in rural Alberta navigate the escalated stress and anxiety of the Covid-19 pandemic, the HeadStrong program has extended top-notch group/one-on-one coaching sessions and psychological services to many community members struggling to keep their businesses afloat and their wellness intact. The work we have been doing through this initiative is critically important, as rural Albertans often face additional challenges when struggling with mental health in small communities where these issues and the act of seeking help are often stigmatized unfairly.

HeadStrong Webinars: Sharing Real Talk About Mental Health Online

A collaborative effort, HeadStrong is also having an impact by reaching out through an ongoing series of free webinars and online workshops, featuring local personalities, business owners, and mental health professionals. Join us (and invite your network!) for these open conversations and learn practical tools and real-world strategies to navigate stress and mental health challenges as we look to the post-Covid future and assess the pandemic's impact on wellness in our community.

​Join Us for Upcoming Events and Check out Our Summer Webinar Schedule!

For more information on upcoming events and mental health services offered through the HeadStrong initiative, please go to www.headstrongprogram.com or email our team at hello@headstrongprogram.com. Let's keep building momentum for mental health awareness, and finding new ways to help ourselves and other members of our communities #becomeheadstrong in rural Alberta!

BCO's Spring Clothing Drive is officially underway in Lethbridge!

Are you busy decluttering to see what still sparks joy in your home? Maybe tackling a little spring cleaning? Pair your closet refresh with an act of kindness to help those in need! 

How to Donate

Donations can be dropped off at any of our partner Ashcroft and Stranville Living show home locations until May 24. We are asking for donations of new or gently used clothing, laundered and bagged to keep every one safe and comply with current public health rules.

​Community Partners

Special thanks to Ashcroft Master Builder and Stranville Living for providing us easy-to-access drop-off locations this year! We are beyond grateful for their help- and for all of the support we have received from the community so far. Let's keep it going Lethbridge!

​Big news! We are delighted to announce that Natura Soylights, one of our outstanding local businesses here in Okotoks, has chosen BCO for their first ever community candle collaboration.

New Community Collaboration with Small Business in Okotoks to Raise Funds and Awareness

Candles have always symbolized the magic of home, hearth and the warmth of being surrounded by ones we love. Natura's stunning BCO Community candle truly shines a light in the darkness, and $10 from every sale will go to help us prevent homelessness in Canada and offer a hand up to those in need. The candle officially launched in March 2021, and there are still some available- just visit bit.ly/BCOCandle to bring one home today!

Building Community, Sharing Our Story, and Looking to the Future

Want to learn more? Check out this beautiful video and discover the deeper meaning this collaboration holds for our founder Pamela Morgan and her soulful vision for BCO! 

We enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL day on Saturday, February 20 for our second annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in Okotoks. The sun was shining and everyone was feeling the love as teams journeyed around town in their brightly coloured CNOY toques for this year’s socially distanced event.

Community Spirit and Social Distancing 

We are so very grateful for the generous support we received from lovely souls all around our AMAZING community, including many wonderful local celebrities who helped us raise awareness for this important event during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone from foothills country singer George Canyon to local councillor Ed Sands, our MLA R.J. Sigurdson and his wife Leanne, our MP John Barlow,  and local businesses including Acreage Development Solutions, Century 21 Foothills Real Estate and CIR Realty Okotoks. We also want to give a special shout-out to RBC in Okotoks for leading the way as our community sponsor- their generous support was appreciated even more at a time when we know so many local businesses are struggling with restrictions caused by extended public health measures during the pandemic.

CNOY 2021 by the Numbers

​In this year like no other, we are so grateful to everyone who contributed whatever they were able. A total of 61 walkers and 25 teams hustled to raise over $14,000 for BCO and the Okotoks Food Bank! 

Building a Legacy of Compassion and Hope
​
Although we deeply missed being able to walk together to raise awareness for those experiencing cold, hurt and hunger across Canada, we couldn’t be more excited for CNOY next year! In the meantime, we will pay forward all of the kind support we received with warm meals and essentials for people who are struggling in our community. Together, we are creating a truly resilient legacy of compassion and hope, and we just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who got involved from the bottom of our hearts. Until next year Okotoks!

#CNOY21 #fundraiser

BCO is delighted to announce the official launch of our groundbreaking HeadStrong Program. This brand new mental health initiative is aimed at helping small business owners and entrepreneurs in the foothills of southern Alberta who may be struggling as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact emotional and mental wellness in all aspects of our lives.

Improving Accessibility to Mental Health Services in our Community

Our goal is to help the incredible people behind businesses at the heart of our community develop resiliency and coping skills to manage stress, and to empower them to lead the way forward to a healthier future for us all. 

The HeadStrong program is funded in part by the Government of Alberta, focused on supporting the mental and emotional health and wellbeing of rural Albertans who are in small or medium sized businesses or nonprofits. 

What Services Does the HeadStrong Program Provide and Who Qualifies?

Led by the Baby It's Cold Outside in partnership with Wellness Innovate, HeadStrong will provide counselling services free of charge to local business owners and entrepreneurs in the Foothills and Highwood constituencies. Services include group and one-on-one coaching programs, as well as individual psychological services available upon request.

How Do I Access Mental Health Services Through the HeadStrong Program?

To learn more visit www.headstrongprogram.com
To book a session, email us at hello@headstrong.com 
For immediate help, call 403-266-HELP

Team BCO is dusting off our parkas and winter boots, and getting ready to hit the pavement to help those in need. On February 20, we will be co-hosting our second annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraiser with the Okotoks Food Bank Association.

What is CNOY?
CNOY is a family-friendly walk that raises money for local charities working to help people experiencing homelessness, hurt and hunger across Canada.

COVID-19 and Public Health Restrictions
This year more than ever, CNOY is all about community- how we can work together (even when we can’t physically be together,) to help those in need. Due to current public health restrictions, CNOY 2021 will be held virtually in Okotoks, with all participants choosing their own routes to walk in town, either individually or in socially distanced teams.

A Legacy of Kindness and Charitable Giving
Last year, our inaugural CNOY event inspired over 120 participants to come together, demonstrating the resilience and compassionate spirit that makes our community such an amazing place to live. They walked a mile or two in the shoes of the hungry, homeless, and vulnerable, and in doing so raised over $15, 000.00 for local charitable initiatives led by BCO and the Okotoks Food Bank. This year we are building on that amazing success, increasing our fundraising goal to $30,000.00, with 11 teams registered so far and more joining every day.

How Can I Get Involved?
Visit www.cnoy.org to donate, register to walk or start your own team to join in some good-natured competition!

Together, we can make sure nobody gets left out in the cold!