A longtime supporter of the High River District Health Care Foundation has received a prestigious honour.

Michelle Ball of Brant Lake Wagyu has been awarded the 2021 Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award.

"My first participation was with the Chinook Country Cattle and Grain Round-Up which is still supporting the hospital foundation and I did sit on the board as well for a six year stint so I was involved with the hospital foundation in that way as well," said Ball.

"I'm a longtime resident of High River, born and raised, I feel very passionate about health and wellness, I think that's very important for individuals to have a happy and long life and health and wellness and being involved in the hospital and making sure I'm a strong supporter of the programs and the facilities meant a lot to me."

The foundation's Fund Development Officer Cathy Couey says Ball has a quiet, thoughtful business acumen that is very well respected amongst staff and brings real strength to the board, both financially and through her support.

The Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award was named to honour the couple who were long-time residents of the Nanton area. 

Their bequest to the Foundation enabled it to establish a permanent Endowment Fund which is the backbone of its long-term financial viability. 

It is in the their spirit of generosity that the award is presented every year, normally at the annual Dinner and Auction Gala.

"The last two years we've had to change how we've awarded it and done it in a much more intimate setting but we are looking forward to, in October of this year awarding the 2022 Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award and then hopefully we'll be on track going forward," Couey says.