Photo: Deric Orton, VP Land & Stakeholder Relations, North American Helium; Clayton Wenaas, Operations Management, North American Helium; Caitlin Mann - SWFF; Darcy Congdon, Director of Community Development for City of Swift Current; Butch Gering - SWFF; Kyle Attanasio - Chief Administrative Officer for City of Swift Current
NEWS RELEASE
October 29, 2026
The Southwest Facility Foundation is excited to announce a $100,000 donation from North American Helium (NAH), paid over four years starting immediately. With this gift, the Foundation's total raised now sits at more than $5,551,000 in cash donations and commitments, thanks to the generosity of individuals, clubs, businesses, and RMs across the Southwest and beyond.
Funds will support the City of Swift Current in building new recreation facilities, including the much-needed aquatic leisure centre and multi-sport fieldhouse.
The donation comes during a milestone month for North American Helium in the Southwest. On October 15, the company officially opened its new Stewart Valley helium purification facility, about 40 kilometres north of Swift Current, with a press conference and guided tour attended by Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal, Saskatchewan Minister of Energy and Resources Chris Beaudry, Swift Current MLA Everett Hindley, and NAH Chairman and CEO Nicholas Snyder.
A growing presence in Southwest Saskatchewan
Founded in 2013, Calgary-based North American Helium is Saskatchewan's largest helium producer. The company brought its first purification plant online in 2020 and has since invested roughly $700 million and drilled more than 120 wells across the province.
Its newest facility at Stewart Valley began producing on September 20, 2026, and sits on the largest helium field ever discovered in Canada, with an independently evaluated 1.1 billion cubic feet of helium reserves. At about 73 million cubic feet of helium per year, it is now Canada's largest helium production facility and is expected to increase Saskatchewan's annual helium output by more than 40 per cent. The project went from discovery well to full production in just 13 months and adds permanent operator jobs to the region.
Helium from the Southwest supplies industries that can't do without it, including MRI machines and medical research, semiconductor and fibre optic manufacturing, and rocket launches.
Looking ahead: a helium liquefier for Swift Current
With Stewart Valley now onstream, NAH says it has enough regional production to support Canada's first helium liquefier, which it intends to build in Swift Current. The project, estimated at around $100 million, would allow helium to be liquefied right here in the Southwest rather than trucked to the United States, creating construction employment and permanent operator jobs. NAH is working toward a final investment decision, and the liquefier was featured in the investment prospectus for the inaugural Canada Investment Summit in Toronto this September.
Speaking at the October 15 tour, Mayor Bridal pointed to NAH's support for the Southwest Facility Foundation as an example of the company investing not only in the industry, but in the communities themselves.
In NAH's words
"Engaging with and supporting communities where we work is a cornerstone of North American Helium's culture and identity.
Our Community Investment Program provides us a means to give back to organizations and people in direct alignment with our Company's values and goals, and in turn, it creates opportunity to support sustainable, healthy communities. Our giving is focused on three main priorities: 1) Lifelong Learning; 2) Healthy Communities and 3) Resilient Ecosystems.
With clear and direct alignment between our Company's values and goals and the Southwest Facility Foundation's mission to promote wellness for everyone with accessible, multi-use recreation facilities, North American Helium is proud to support the construction of a new aquatic facility in Swift Current, Saskatchewan with a donation of $100,000 over four years." - North American Helium
Why it matters
As industries like helium bring new jobs and families to the region, modern recreation facilities become even more important. New facilities give residents of all ages space to gather and stay active, and help attract and keep the workforce a growing economy needs. Recreation facilities are also proven to boost tourism, economic activity, and future growth.
Work on the aquatic leisure centre continues. Mayor Bridal travelled to Parliament Hill in early October to advocate for the project, and City Council expects to receive updated cost analysis and design options early in the new year. The City continues to lobby all levels of government for funding support, with advocacy help from the Foundation. For questions about the City's initiatives and progress, reach out to a City Councillor or contact City Hall.
To learn more, get involved, or donate - www.southwestfacilityfoundation.com or reach out to the board of directors anytime.
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Swift Current Aquatic Centre, built in 1985.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Southwest Facility Foundation
