Northern Lights Health Foundation Achieves Re-accreditation from Imagine Canada’s Standard Program for 2019-2024  

December 10, 2019 – the Northern Lights Health Foundation today announces that it has been re-accredited under Imagine Canada’s National Standards Program. With this achievement, we maintain our status, held since 2014, in a growing community of more than 245 organizations dedicated to operational excellence.

The Standards Program is a Canada-wide set of shared standards for charities and nonprofits designed to strengthen practices in five fundamental areas: board governance; financial accountability and transparency; fundraising; staff management; and volunteer involvement.

“The Health Foundation Board takes great pride in knowing that our staff and Board team are operating at the highest level – with personal and professional accountability for our decisions and actions,” says Melanie Antoine, Board Chair.

“Receiving the Trustmark is a testimony to an organization’s commitment to maintaining the highest level of integrity, efficiency and transparency in their practices. The accreditation, which is designed to build Canadians’ trust and confidence in the sector, is awarded upon successful completion of a rigorous, in-depth application process. We are honoured to count these well-deserving recipients in Imagine Canada’s Standards Program community, and proud to join them in celebrating their remarkable achievement.” Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO of Imagine Canada.

About the Standards Program

The goals of Imagine Canada’s Standards Program are to increase organizational excellence and transparency of charities and nonprofits, and to strengthen public confidence in individual organizations and the sector as a whole.

Peer-review Process and Compliance

Our policies and procedures in the five areas of compliance were evaluated by a group of volunteers from the sector, and were found to be compliant with the Standards Program. Accredited organizations are required to complete full re-accreditation on a five-year basis. Compliance during the accreditation period is monitored through an annual process that requires organizations to submit evidence demonstrating selected standards are being met.

“Donors can be assured that in addition to complying with all of the legal requirements for Canadian charities under Canada Revenue Agency, and adhering to our Bylaws as defined under the Alberta Regional Health Authorities Foundations Regulation, the Northern Lights Health Foundation has taken the additional step of seeking external validation and accreditation. This accreditation is for a five-year period (2019-2024), with annual reviews and requires dedicated attention to reviewing policies, maintaining ethics, and operating with transparency,” said Cindy Amerongen, Executive Director.

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For more information, please contact:

Cindy Amerongen, Executive Director

Northern Lights Health Foundation

Tel: 780-791-6178  Email: cindy.amerongen@ahs.ca