In the past year, Avenue Living Communities has dedicated time and resources to help the communities it operates in throughout Western Canada.
By supporting and helping not-for-profits, social agencies and other organizations, Avenue Living is committed to having a hand in their efforts to positively impact their respective communities.
“It’s a very simple philosophy for us when it comes to the Avenue Living brand and the community,” says William Akoto, Director of Marketing for Avenue Living Communities. “We strongly believe we thrive as a company when the communities we operate in also grow.”
“Fundamentally, we believe that our organization and the community go hand in hand. As we grow, we also want to make sure that the communities in which we operate grow.”
Avenue Living owns and operates more than 8,800 multi-family rental residences across many Western Canadian markets. It began as a company in 2006 with the purchase of 24 rental units in Brooks, Alberta for $3 million. The company, which has a diversified portfolio across 17 markets in the Prairies, intends to grow to more than 10,000 residential units across Western Canada by the end of this year, largely by providing housing for what it considers to be the “workforce housing” population.
Akoto says Avenue Living has taken opportunities to assist in the positive impact different organizations are driving forward.
“On a practical level, that means we commit and engage with not-for-profits like the food bank in Medicine Hat, social agencies like Brown Bagging in Calgary and other humanitarian institutions or agencies in specific communities that we operate in and help them to attain either a financial goal or a social cause,” he says.
“We try to have an impact in ALC communities by partnering with local associations that really touch the the people that live in those communities.”
The company’s philosophy is to provide quality housing, so it’s only natural that Avenue Living would embrace efforts that improve and enhance the quality of life in any community where it holds rental properties.
“Canadians love to see the companies they engage with or do business with giving back to the community,” says Akoto. “It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about supporting the communities that we live in and helping the community grow.”
Here are some of the key initiatives Avenue Living has been involved with:
- In the summer of 2019, Avenue Living sponsored the Canadian Mental Health Association’s eighth annual Ride Don’t Hide fundraising bike ride in Springbank. Ride Don’t Hide is the largest mental health bike ride in Canada with almost 10,000 riders and hundreds more family members, friends and volunteers across Canada taking part in raising more than $2 million each year.
- In 2019, Avenue Living sponsored the EPIC Spring Hockey Team. EPIC hosts elite performance improvement camps and tournaments for youth hockey players across Western Canada. This year’s squad competed in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg.
- Avenue Living sponsored the Moose Jaw Bantam Ice Girls Softball Team in 2019. ALC helped support their journey as they competed in a number of tournaments throughout Saskatchewan in preparation for the U16 A Provincial Championships in Prince Albert during the summer.
- The company was a donor to the HIV Community Link’s annual Splash of Red benefit event which raised $60,000 to be used toward prevention, education and support programs across Southern Alberta.
- Avenue Living partnered with the Medicine Hat Food Bank to raise money and much needed food in the community.
- The company is also a partner with Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids, which feeds hungry students each day at their schools.
- Avenue Living has partnered with the Western Hockey League, producing the inspirational Dreams video broadcast in nine WHL arenas thoughrout the season.
