We are pleased to announce that the St. Albert Rugby Club has established the Canadian Rugby Foundation’s 95th fund, the St. Albert Rugby Legacy Fund at the end of August 2026.
ST. ALBERT RFC
Rugby was first introduced in St. Albert at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School in 1961-62 by Welshman Myrddin Jones. However, when Myrddin moved away, the program ceased. The game was resurrected in St. Albert when Roger Scott, a physical education teacher at Paul Kane High School, requested help to start a rugby team in 1980. This was followed in 1981 with the founding of the St. Albert Rugby Club and in 1982, the club’s first game within the Edmonton Rugby Union.
In 1989, after progressing from St. Albert won the Edmonton Rugby Union 1st Division Championship.
On the administrative side, SARFC made a presentation to City Council for thirteen acres of land for playing fields and a clubhouse. They were successful in obtaining a 25-year lease with the fields being levelled, top soiled and seeded in 1983 and available for use in 1985. After obtaining a federal grant in 1983, the plans to start building a clubhouse were underway. The clubhouse officially opened in February 1985.
The club is located in St. Albert, AB just north of Edmonton and currently has over 500 playing members from U5 to Masters. The objective is to have this endowment fund will better support the club’s rugby programs long-term. As of 2026, the club is entering its 45th year , and the goal is to build a 5-year plan with the membership to grow the fund ahead of the St. Albert RFC’s 50th Anniversary in 2031.
ST. ALBERT RUGBY LEGACY FUND
The St. Albert Rugby Legacy Fund was established in August 2026. It is intended to provide funding from its endowment that continues the objects of the St. Albert Rugby Football Club (Fund Sponsor) and are consistent with the broad objects and purposes of the St. Albert Rugby Football Club, Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation, to develop and grow rugby across Canada while meeting all CRA requirements.
During the first five (5) years following the Fund’s creation, the club has the option of splitting all new donations into two parts:
1. 50% of donations into the permanent endowment portion of the Fund. These donations are eligible for the Foundation’s matching contributions (25% of donations to a maximum of $25,000).
2. A maximum of 50% into a portion of the Fund that is available for annual operating expenses as listed below. This is only available for new funds in their first five years while the fund is at an embryonic stage, and where the needs of the club’s operations need to be balanced with the long-term needs of the club’s sustainability. These donations are not eligible for the matching contributions.
The following are examples of the kinds of projects or uses for which a grant may be approved.
- Encouraging, promoting and fostering the sport of rugby union football in St. Albert and surrounding districts.
- Providing and maintaining the uniforms, equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities required by the sport.
TO HELP REACH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY GOAL, GO HERE TO DONATE TO THE ST. ALBERT RUGBY LEGACY FUND:
