AUGUST 2019

HIGHLIGHTS

NEW WEBSITE!

After lots of hard work and design, True North Aid would like to announce that our new website is officially online! Thank you to Mike and his team at Creative Carbonc for going above and beyond and making our website fresh and compatible for all devices. We are still under construction, but please take time to check it out. www.truenorthaid.ca


HOPE – FRIENDS OF THE NORTH MISIWAY

MOOSE FACTORY CONTAINER DELIVERED

We are pleased to announce that ” The Friends of the North Misiway Project ” container packed with food, clothing, sports equipment and so much more has arrived in Moose Factory, Ontario to serve as a community cupboard for those that need assistance with these supplies. This was a team effort and a labour of love for many in the Kingston area. The shipping container travelled by truck, train and boat to get to its destination and we thank all those who supported this important project.


HOPE – BACKPACKS FROM PIKANGIKUM

BACKPACKS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED

A huge thank you to our private pilots, Brad & Jim Martyn, who delivered 100 backpacks and other supplies to the to Eenchokay Birchstick Schook in Pikangikum First Nation, a community located in northern Ontario. Thank you to Isobel and her family for leading ” The Backpacks for Pikangikum Project ” and all who donated towards the purchase of the backpacks. This was a team effort and made possible through the generosity of so many people.


HOPE – BACKPACKS FOR DEER LAKE

BACKPACKS ARRIVE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Thank you to Wilke Transport for helping us ship and deliver 100 backpacks to Deer Lake First Nation just in time for the new school year! Many students at the local school will benefit from these backpacks filled with school supplies and more! Special thanks to Wendy Hager from Sew on Fire Ministries and their many volunteers for preparing 75 backpacks and filling them with supplies. Also, thank you to the Singh family in Grimsby for their efforts to purchase 25 of these school bags and Jennifer Thompson who organized, repacked, boxed and labelled the backpacks for transportation.


SELF-DETERMINATION – THE CAMINO WAY PROJECT

RAISING AWARENESS ON THE CAMINO WAY TRAIL

Join Natasha and her mom, Cindy as they travel the Camino Way from Switzerland to Rome in hopes of raising awareness about northern communities. Through this journey, Natasha is raising money for the Ballantyne Project . You can follow their journey on Instagram – @walkthisway.camino . If you have an idea for an awareness campaign or fundraiser, please contact us today!


SELF-DETERMINATION – THE BALLANTYNE PROJECT

THE BALLANTYNE PROJECT TRAVELS NORTH

The Ballantyne Project is launching an innovative opportunity for Indigenous youth living in rural and remote First Nations in Canada. We are excited to announce we are arranging our first four-day trip to George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan September 23 – 27, 2019. Dwight and his team plan to travel to seven other First Nation communities before the spring of 2020.


HEALTH – SUBCULTURE YARN HEARTS AND HANDS FUNDRAISERS

SUPPORTING NEW INDIGENOUS MOMS

Join Subculture Yarn in combining their love of fibre craft and humanitarian concerns to support new indigenous mothers and families, while at the same time fundraising for True North Aid efforts. There are many ways to get involved and support new moms and babies – A subculture, is defined as a group of people with a single common and generally chosen thread of identity that sets that group of people apart. In this case, we are set apart from the rest and unified by the art that we practice, the art of knitting, crochet, weaving, dyeing, spinning, we yarnie few.


HEALTH – INDIGENOUS MEDICAL ALLIANCE

MOBILITY AIDS ON THEIR WAY TO EABAMETOONG FIRST NATION

Six pallets with eight wheelchairs and ten walkers are on their way to Fort Hope First Nation this week. Special thanks to Roll Up Solutions , and Mikel Peesker and his team at GoodWill Industries in London , North Star Air and Truckers for Change for making this project possible. Also thank you to those who donated their gently used walkers. This equipment will be used as part of Fort Hope’s community cupboard for elders without their own mobility devices.


HOPE – BIKES FOR KIIZHIK SCHOOL

BIKES ARRIVE IN KENORA

True North Aid is excited that all 30 bicycles to GaagageKiizhik School in Kenora, Ontario have been delivered! Special thanks to the Ontario Provincial Police Kenora Detachment who will be assembling and maintaining these bicycles so that the youth at Kiizhik school will have quality bicycles for many years to come.
A huge shout out and thanks to New Hope Community Bikes in Hamilton for supplying us with a major discount on 25 new bicycles and 5 used. Support is still needed – please CLICK HERE to help


FOOD – BIRCH NARROWS/TURNOR LAKE COMMUNITY KITCHEN

APPLIANCES PURCHASED FOR COMMUNITY KITCHEN

The Turnor Lake & Birch Narrows Community Food Centre INC is almost finished. To complete the kitchen, True North Aid was able to purchase another stove and fridge. A huge shout out to Rebecca Sylvestre and her team of volunteers who have continued to work tirelessly to see this dream become a reality. We look forward to hearing the news that programs are up and running where members can come and teach and learn and grow together.


HOT CHOCOLATE CHARITY CONCERT

SUPPORTING TRUE NORTH AID INITIATIVES

Thank you to Haley and the team at Kingston Community Concerts as well as all of those who attended and performed at their hosting a Hot Chocolate charity concert to support True North Aid. They raised $158 for True North Aid projects on August 31st in Kingston. Your support is much appreciated!


TRUE NORTH AID TRAVELS TO EAGLE LAKE FIRST NATION

Our True North Aid director, Ken Smid travelled to Eagle Lake First Nation along with representatives from the University of Manitoba and the government to strategize and collaborate on the implementation of technology to combat food insecurity in northern communities. We will be working on building a project with Eagle Lake in the months to come.


BRANTFORD GIRLS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES DRIVE

A hockey equipment drive is being organized at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Complex in Brantford this Saturday, September 7, in the morning. Used equipment, in excellent condition, is being accepted by volunteers with the Brantford Girls Hockey Association and will be picked up and transported to a northern community in need of assistance.


EDUCATION – BBRIDGING THE GAP: A WALK TOWARDS RECONCILIATION

Join the Good Ally Project and True North Aid on Sunday, September 29th from 12-4 at Little Cataraqui Conservation Area north of Kingston to walk together towards reconciliation. Reflect on the legacy of Residential Schools and learn ways to become a good ally. Admission is free, but donations are requested to support The Good Ally Project. More information to come.


JOIN US FOR A MONTH OF RECONCILI-ACTION

Throughout the month of September, True North Aid will invite Canadians to take a step forward towards an intentional journey of reconciliation, offering ideas on how to meaningfully do so on our social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. This campaign will highlight how True North Aid’s eight stones of support are empowering Indigenous communities by way of practical humanitarian assistance in providing food, water, health, education and many other support projects.


$1000 GRANT FROM DYNACARE

Thank You

True North Aid was nominated for the Dynacare Lead Charity Program this summer. The program provides $25,000 for 1 of 4 charities selected through a voting process by Dynacare employees. Although voting was close, we were not selected but will be receiving $1000 for our participation in this process. We are grateful to the employees who nominated us and Dynacare’s commitment to supporting Canadian charities.