Historical Society of Alberta gets three-year funding reprieve from province
The 119-year-old society will receive $133,000 over three years after being cut from the 2026 budget, restoring stability to its heritage programming.
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The Historical Society of Alberta has received a commitment letter from Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir for transitional funding totalling $133,000 over three years.
The funding package will provide $76,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year, followed by $38,000 in 2027-28 and $19,000 in 2028-29, giving the 119-year-old society what it describes as "critical stability" to keep its doors open and core heritage programming running.
The province's decision to restore funding followed a campaign by HSA members, heritage advocates and community stakeholders after the society was cut from Alberta's 2026 budget.
The $76,000 grant is primarily used to cover the society's grant funding program for smaller organizations. It has also partly funded heritage fairs for elementary and middle schools, and provided operating revenue for each of the society's five regional chapters.
Historical Society of Alberta president Lorien Johansen said in a statement: "This funding is not just an investment in our organization; it is an investment in Alberta's cultural fabric and our vibrant tourism industry."
In response, Minister Fir said the Alberta government faced "a tough budget" but committed more than $55 million to support Alberta's heritage overall.