The Antigonish Farmers Mutual Insurance company pushes the red line higher with a $25,000 donation to the Oxford & Area Community Centre
It was another sub-zero, windy day standing in front of the build site at the Oxford & Area Community Centre, but there were few complaints, given the reason for being there. Members of the OCC Committee welcomed representatives of the Antigonish Farmers Mutual Insurance (AFMI) Company as they presented a significant donation to the facility, which plans to open its doors in just a few months.
CEO Michael Malcolm came personally to meet with the committee, saying while the firm has been giving back to the communities it serves since 1910, this is the first major donation that precedes the upcoming establishment of a charitable foundation by AFMI.
“We didn’t have a budget line for this year, but we just came off a couple really good years…. We’re a mutual, which means we’re community-based and we want to put money back into communities. (W)e took the proposal that George had gotten from the group here, we took that to our board of directors. We donated here because this is our biggest territory that we have. We have a long time agent here. As a Nova Scotian, I know Oxford and Bragg have done a lot basically for the community.”
“The fact that we’re going to have something here, we’d be able to drive by this. My grandkids, hopefully, if they play hockey or are involved in something, they’ll be at this centre at some point in time. I know my son played in the old Oxford Rink, so my guess is when you’re from Pictou County, you’ll probably end up (playing) here at some point in time.”
George Ferdinand, an Oxford resident who works as an agent for AFMI, says it’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of this donation:
“Well, I’ve lived here all my life, basically, all my adult life for sure. Oxford’s always been very good to me. I’ve made my living here for the last 40 years. And any chance I can get to give back to anything in the community, I will do so.”
Also present was AFMI sales agent Judy Lynn Kenney: “I’m just proud to be part of this, and I really like the people from this area, I think it’s well deserved.”
OCC Committee member Paul Jones is thrilled with the donation: “It’s fantastic the community buy in and support! Looking forward to adding the last red to the barometer! And opening day!”
Chrystal McNutt, another OCC Committee member, agrees: “It is truly heart warming watching the local donations come in daily! We have young families, we have established couples and single individuals giving what they can. The OCC board wants everyone to feel like this building belongs to them and what better way than to donate to the build! We’re getting closer every day!”
The $24.5-million building has received significant support from the Federal and Provincial governments, the River Philip Foundation, the Town of Oxford, the Municipality of Cumberland County, and many other businesses and individuals. Naming rights for the OCC’s gymnasium was secured by Home Hardware Building Supplies (Oxford, Wallace, Tatamagouche) in partnership with the Rath Group. The CIBC Bank’s donation earned that company naming rights for the learning centre, co-branded with the Oxford Branch of the Cumberland Public Libraries. The final, official name for the community centre should be made public in the next few months. According to OCC committee member Connie Keating-Pettigrew, the group is about $650-thousand shy of the full project total (see full donor’s list below).
Previous coverage:
— The Thermometer Is Rising! (16 August 2025)
— Every little bit helps… (21 May2025)
— Your Community Centre (1 April 2025)
— “This is huge for Oxford, it’s huge for Cumberland County” (9 October 2024)
