Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, March 27, 2014

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What a delight it is to be here to help celebrate this milestone anniversary. Congratulations all of you on 25 years of the Edmonton Community Foundation!

This is a great day for Edmonton, for the Province of Alberta and for all of Canada. This organization has had a real impact in its quarter-century of operation, one that ultimately extends far beyond the city limits.

The numbers are certainly impressive. Since 1989, the Edmonton Community Foundation has helped donors connect with worthy causes to the tune of more than $150 million.

And, importantly, that generosity has been shared widely, with more than 1 200 agencies receiving grants.

Without a doubt, the list of individuals and agencies that have benefitted is long, but I think it can be summed up in three words: all of us.

We’re all better off thanks to the remarkable generosity of donors in this community, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those who support this organization.

In other words, thanks to people like you.

I am so pleased to be here today because each of you believes so strongly in the importance of community, and you understand that in a society such as ours, everyone has something to give.

That attitude is what has enabled the Edmonton Community Foundation to develop such a strong connection with Edmontonians and people throughout the region.

This is not about fulfilling an obligation or duty, in the outdated sense of noblesse oblige, in which people were essentially divided into two camps: haves and have-nots.

Rather, the success of this foundation stems from an understanding of the wonderful reciprocity of giving. You recognize that we all have something to offer, and that the way to build a successful community is to constantly widen the circle of giving.

The data backs this up. Some of you have no doubt heard the results of the global happiness survey released by the United Nations last fall. Canada placed 6th in the world, an impressive achievement due in no small part to the efforts of people like you.

Why are Canadians among the happiest people in the world? One of the major reasons, it turns out, is because we live in a caring society.

To explain: the UN study found that six key factors account for fully three-quarters of the differences in happiness levels between nations. And two of those factors relate directly to the level of “caring” in a society:

1. The generosity of fellow citizens;

2. Having someone to rely on in times of trouble.

Think about that for a moment.  

The existence of a sense of giving and shared support in a society is right up there with life expectancy, freedom, and GDP per capita as reasons for our happiness.

That’s what I mean by “reciprocity of giving.” Giving is not a one-way we street. We all stand to benefit by sharing and supporting one another. We learn from each other, and we gain a sense of contentment and security when we’re immersed in an environment of generosity and caring.

We also develop a sense of purpose by taking part in the giving ourselves.

If all of this sounds somewhat self-evident, perhaps it is. But the most important lessons in life are often the simplest.

I have no doubt each of you has realized the reciprocal nature of giving through your work with this organization. By reaching out and helping others, you have grown as individuals and as a community.

I would like to thank all of the members, donors and community leaders who have come together, tonight and over the course of the past 25 years, to support this city through the Edmonton Community Foundation.

Yours is an essential contribution to Edmonton, and to Canada, and for that, I am very grateful.

Have a wonderful celebration.