Guiding Principles

The Wilson Battlefords Initiative is focused on supporting the region in regaining its reputation as a dynamic community that is safe as well as a great place to live, work, start a business, and raise a family.

The Wilson family provides philanthropic resources supporting initiatives that bring people in the community together to improve education levels, reduce crime, attract new investment, and improve life for everyone. Through our combined efforts, we can become more confident in our ability, individually and collectively, to address the Battlefords’ regional community challenges and turn adversity into opportunity.

Look Back. See Forward.

It’s hard to know where you’re going unless you examine where you’ve been and, more importantly, how you want to move forward as a community. The Battlefords region has been home to enterprising pioneers and long before that to indigenous peoples with rich traditions and deep connections to the land. This is still the same today. There have been serious conflicts and mistakes made in the past between indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Through collaboration and enterprise – guided by strong leadership and communities working together for the health, well-being and the prosperity of everyone – we can ensure the Battlefords region will return to a vibrant, wonderful place to live, work and prosper.

Focus on small wins.

We want to create a positive cycle of success by focusing on setting and achieving small goals, and celebrating cumulative progress.

Positive Modeling

We learn by watching others. By encouraging collaboration and mentorship across the community, we can create a positive ripple effect of optimism and resiliency that can impact the entire community today and well into the future.

“The safest communities in the world are where people know each other and look out for each other.”

About the Wilsons

Brett is a home-grown entrepreneur and philanthropist whose roots go back to the community’s earliest days. His great-grandfather Prince was an entrepreneur who became the region’s first Senator. His parents carried the torch in their own way, building the community as volunteers and advocates for economic and social good.

Brett believes in helping people see their own potential for good. Back in 2006, he inspired people in this community to raise $1 million by matching funds for the Battlefords Union Hospital—an outcome that seemed unthinkable even a few months before. His son Russell (with a Master’s in Business Administration and major in philanthropy) represents the newest generation of Wilsons who are blending entrepreneurship and philanthropy to help build communities that reflect the values of the people who live and work there.

The-Wilson-Battlefords-Initiative_Brett-Wilson

“Brett’s understanding of the community is really important. He’s a friend of The Battlefords, and an ally to the front-line. We don’t get a lot of that kind of support.”