Fort St. John Rotary Club makes several donations following Ribfest

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Rotary Club has made several donations to organizations in the area following the 2026 Rotary Ribfest.

Following the conclusion of this year’s Rotary Ribfest, the Fort St. John Rotary Ribfest Facebook page announced that this year’s three-day event raised $38,000 in ticket sales for the 50-50 draw, the highest total in the last two years. 

Patricia Budgell, president of the Rotary Club of Fort St. John, said that the community coming, having a good time, seeing the benefits of where their money is going, and seeing that it supports the community led to the 50-50 being so successful. 

According to the Rotary Club of Fort St. John, more than $40,000 was raised “to support the ongoing charitable work of the Rotary Clubs of Fort St. John.” 

Rotary said it was “pleased” to directly invest in local organizations and community partners, including a $2,500 donation to the Northern Dance Theatre Society, $1,000 each to Fort St. John Association for Community Living, Friends of the Fort St. John Public Library, Fort St. John Men’s Shed and the North Peace Historical Society. 

The Rotary also donated $11,200 to local bands and performers. 

The North Peace Museum Pie Sale held during Ribfest raised $1,400. 

 As part of the Rotary Ribfest 50-50 draw, $19,000 will go towards supporting the North Peace Seniors Housing Society (NPSHS). 

Budgell explained why the organization donated half of the 50-50 to the seniors housing society.

“The North Peace Seniors Housing Society has some significant repairs that are needed for their facilities,” she said. 

“We really just wanted to be able to put some money towards them and help them get things back up to speed in their facilities so they can continue to help the seniors that really need it,” continued Budgell. 

Budgell also explained why it was important for the Rotary to support other community organizations, such as the Association for Community Living and the Northern Dance Theatre Society.

“They do a lot for our community to make it a better place for the people that live in it, the families that live in it, the people that need it,” she said. “They do need support, and we want to be able to live in a community where we can work, play and thrive.”

“All of these organizations are part of that mechanism that really makes Fort St. John a great place to live,” said Budgell. 

Brook Goulet, office manager at the North Peace Senior Housing Society, explained what receiving half of the 50-50 draw means to the society. 

“It means a lot to us,” she said. “We are an independent-run facility; we receive no funding through the government or anywhere else.”

Goulet said the society is a “community-based housing” facility for 60-plus independent seniors.

The society offers dances through its drop-in program and provides meal support, with lunch and dinner served in a dining room. 

Goulet also said the society has programs that help seniors with their housekeeping and entertainment needs, including ‘Better At Home.’

According to its website, Better At Home supports the non-medical needs of older adults from priority populations in the province.

“Better At Home is a program that helps older adults with simple, non-medical, day-to-day tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities,” the program’s website said. 

Goulet said the society relies on donations and 50-50 grants to fund upgrades and keep rent low for its seniors housing. 

Goulet outlined the need for the services the society offers. 

“It’s important [because] seniors are moving in here at a later age in their life,” she said. “It gives them a purpose to continue to be independent, even though they lose a little bit of their independence while they age.”  

Goulet said the society’s services enable seniors to remain socially active and participate in the community while aging in place. 

According to Goulet, the housing society had previously made a presentation to the Rotary, but it was a surprise to learn they were the recipients of proceeds from the 50-50 draw.