Summit GM has been a part of the Fort McMurray community for over three years now. During that time, we’ve sold thousands of vehicles to people all over Northern Alberta. We’re known for our GM vehicles, but being a part of the community is so much more than that.
We often find ourselves in a unique position to help those in need, promote community spirit and contribute to Fort McMurray’s culture. It’s quite an honor to be able to make the city a better place, so we’re always on the lookout for ways to give back to a community that has already given us so much.
Thank you to everyone who supports us! Here’s just a few of the community building events we’re a part of:
Wood Buffalo Food Bank
Summit GM teamed up with the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, and lucky Summit customers participated in the Grocery Grab – an annual event where each participant has 60 seconds to dash through the aisles of the local Save On Food supermarket grabbing as much free merchandise as possible. Employees, media and local personalities also ran the event, with everything collected going to the Wood Buffalo Food Bank. The loot, ripe with baby diapers, formula and dairy, certainly helped families in need over the holiday season.
Festival of Trees
Speaking of the holiday season, in November Summit GM also participated in Fort McMurray’s Festival of Trees. Organized by the Northern Lights Health Foundation, this annual festival brings together over 300 volunteers and over 8,500 guests. The three-day event includes numerous celebrations and social events, gift shops, tree viewing and local entertainment.
Melanie Antoine, Chair of the Health Foundation’s Board of Directors, says, “Every year this event is spectacular and filled with seasonal elements for every age to enjoy. As a sponsor, donor, and Board member the weekend fills me with pride in the generosity of the people of the region and I am delighted to share the results of the fundraising with everyone.”
Summit GM was proud to purchase an assortment of decorated trees, raising funds for the local health foundation. In total, the festival raised $640,000. Over the past 29 years, Festival of Trees has raised over $8.5 million to support health care in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Summer Sounds Music Festival
Summit GM sponsored Summer Sounds - Fort McMurray’s newest hometown music festival celebrating music of many genres. Each year, music-loving festival goers indulge in up-and-coming and established artists. This single day festival is a concert experience everyone can enjoy, and an all-ages venue for friends and family to come together and enjoy the sounds of Summer.
Scholastic Causes
We support the community by handing out multiple scholarships in the field of mechanics, helping students get a head start in their academic lives and in the workplace. Childhood nutrition is also important, and we made sure the students at Father Beauregard school were well fed by providing fruit cups that fuelled their journey towards knowledge. This was done in partnership with Fort McMurray’s Nutritious Lunch Program.
Sporting Events
Sport is often a cornerstone of community pride, and we work hard to get involved in the lives of promising athletes – from rugby to some of the strongest people on the planet.
In 2018 we were a proud sponsor of the Fort McMurray Rugby Festival. We also sponsored a number of golf tournaments, raising money for charities across Canada. This includes the Toolbox Open – an interactive golf tournament for contractors and businesses who have been working hard to rebuild our community.
We also sponsored the city’s Strongman Competition and Classic Car Show, with money raised going to the Fort McMurray Food Bank Association. The event featured Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson ‘The Mountain’ from Game of Thrones, and was a wild success – bringing the community together with strength.
Get Involved
As Trevor Christensen, General Manager of Summit GM, puts it “We’re here to serve the people of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. Anything Summit GM can do to improve the lives of everyone here, whether by sponsoring events or giving to charitable causes, is important – and we are very proud of all the people who come together to make this a great place to live and raise a family. We are excited to support such a great community, and the people here make that all possible.”
We’re always looking for new and exciting ways to continue to support our neighbours. Do you have a cause you’d like Summit GM to help put in the spotlight? Reach out to us directly, and let us know what you’re up to!
