SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLIGHTS
True North Aid would like to thank all of our volunteers, project leaders, donors, sponsors, families and friends for supporting our endeavours this year. True North Aid is a growing family and is so grateful to know that there are many people who are as passionate as us about alleviating poverty, and providing hope and support to the north.
Here are a few thank yous:
SELF-DETERMINATION – THE BALLANTYNE PROJECT
THANK YOU GEORGE GORDON FIRST NATION FOR WELCOMING DWIGHT
Dwight and the Ballantyne project visited George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan to present the Ballantyne Entrepreneurship Program, taking place in Spring 2020. Dwight spoke to adults 19-30 years old at the Training & Employment Centre, as well as at the Punnichy High School to the grade 12s. The Ballantyne Project met many potential participants and a few who put in their applications to attend our Entrepreneurship Program in June 2020. Dwight and the team are travelling to Peter Ballantyne First Nation in Southend, Saskatchewan at the end of October where he will be sharing his inspirational message and more information on the entrepreneurship program.
HOPE – BACKPACKS FOR DEER LAKE
THANK YOU FROM DEER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL
A HUGE thank you to all who have supported our Backpacks from Deer Lake project! Special thank you to all of those who helped to organize this. Our community contact, Gupreet Flora said the following;
“The kids were so happy and super excited to receive the backpacks. They loved all the materials. Overall the project was a great success and everyone was very happy!”
HOPE– POLAR RUN FOR PEAWANUCK
THANK YOU TO OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS
A shout out to Lola Lawton and Gary for travelling to the Timmins Airport today (From Belleville ON) to deliver a large load of humanitarian assistance we have been collecting for Peawanuck First Nation. Lola is leads our Polar Run for Peawanuck Project and the shipment includes many essential items including some wheelchairs for residents who have waited years for an upgrade. Glad to be partnered with Relay for Hunger, Rollup Solutions Inc., Goodwill Industries, and many others. Thank you Lola & Gary for your generous and caring heart! SUPPORT OUR FOOD FUND TODAY
FOOD – MONTREAL LAKE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
THANK YOU FROM MONTREAL LAKE CREE NATION
Recently we were contacted by some representatives in Montreal Lake First Nation working to help individuals and youth in this northern community. Norman MacCallum travelled there with a vehicle full of food and supplies form our Moon-Time Sisters Project. He met with leaders to explore ways we can serve and support this important community.THANK YOU NORMAN! More to come. SUPPORT OUR FOOD FUND TODAY
SELF-DETERMINATION – THE BALLANTYNE PROJECT
THANK YOU TO THE RBC FOUNDATION!
We would love to share our sincere gratitude to RBC for granting the Ballantyne Project $80,000 for their trips across Canada. This grant will help Dwight and the team to visit northern communities and to inspire hope through the Ballantyne Entrepreneurship program.
HOPE – SERVING YOUNG MOMS IN SIOUX LOOKOUT
ITEMS TRAVEL TO SIOUX LOOKOUT
Thank you to the quilter/knitters group at the ClearView Church Oakville for the amazing donation of blankets/quilts, receiving blankets and many other items (many handmade) to support young moms coming from northwestern Ontario communities to Sioux Lookout to give birth. We have recently established a program to provide much needed support and supplies have shipped off many other supplies including diapers, formula and more…
HOPE – BRANTFORD FOR THE NORTH
COLLECTION COMPLETE – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
TThank you to the Brantford Girls Hockey Association and organizers, Kyle, Lisa, Cathy and Lacey for organizing a Hockey equipment drive for northern communities in Canada. They organized, sorted and checked over all the equipment so it is ready for shipment. Thank you for supporting youth in northern communities who love to play hockey.
HOPE – SCHOOL SUPPLIES
THANK YOU ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH
Thank you to the friends and families of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Kitchener for their generous donation of over 200 backpacks filled with school supplies. These backpacks will soon be shipped to youth living in northern communities.
RECONCILIATION WALK – BRIDGING THE GAP
THANK YOU TO MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS
This September our Indigenous Medical Alliance and Good Ally Project hosted its first annual Reconciliation Walk on Saturday, September 29th. Posters lined the trails of Little Cataraqui Conservation Area with facts and quotes following a timeline of residential school history in Canada. This somber, reflective walk ended with an opportunity for participants to listen to Sisters of the Drum and to sign a Good Ally Banner.
HEALTH – MOON TIME SISTERS ONTARIO
THANK YOU SHOPPERS LOVE YOU GRANT FOR $5000
Moon Time Sisters – Ontario is hosting their month long collection of feminine hygiene products for women and girls living in northern communities in Canada. Visit MTS-ON’s Facebook Page for drop-off locations and more. Please contact Veronica for how you can get involved and for more information.
Thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart LOVE YOU for $5000 given to Moon Time Sisters Ontario for the purchase of feminine hygiene products and supplies for northern communities. This was a great way to kick off their October campaign!
HOPE – BIKES FOR KIIZHIK SCHOOL
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT – BIKES DELIVERED AND ASSEMBLED
38 bicycles and helmets have been delivered for Gaagekiizhik School in Kenora. Thank you to the Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora, Bikes for Hope in Hamilton for helping us complete this project. The bikes came in various sizes and will be enjoyed by children of all ages. These bicycles will provide an opportunity for growth, learning and well-being for the students.
ATTAWAPISKAT ORANGE TSHIRT DAY
THANK YOU ROSIE FOR LEADING THIS WALK
True North aid was happy to support Attawapiskat First Nation with orange “Every Child Matters” t-shirts for events in the community that commemorated the legacy of residential school attendees and survivors on September 30th. Rosie Koostachin, an Elder in the community who organized the day’s events writes, “Every Child Matters ❤️👍 . Thank you to the ones that helped out – you all 👏 awesome – you know who you are ❤️ . We wouldn’t forget the ones out there who donated the orange t shirts for Attawapiskat.. they are beautiful. Last but not least some of the sponsors, (donations) 👉🏼 A.F.N., F.W.B., T.N.A. & T.A.L for shipment of t shirts. Thanks John of Waka. Everything went well.”
RECONCILIATION – HOCKEY CARES – YEAR THREE, PART TWO
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK
Hockey Cares has been keeping busy with multiple fundraisers in the past week. On October 6th, they held their Moccasin Walk fundraiser “Toonies for the Trail”, which supplied bannock, knowledge keepers, and guides down the 5km trail for reconciliation. They also held a fundraiser at a local grocery store in Oakville, Fortinos, where Hockey Cares members helped customers bag their groceries and talked about their upcoming adventure in Attawapiskat.
HEALTH – HEALTH FOR FORT HOPE
THANK YOU TO OUR HEALTH TEAM
The Health For Fort Hope team is heading back to Eabametoong First to follow up with orthotics made for members of the community and to introduce a foot and wound care nurse for members who are dealing with diabetes related sores and more. Help support this team by donating towards their travel and accommodation costs for the week and by helping with the purchase of foot and wound care supplies. SUPPORT THE TEAM TODAY
HOPE – HOCKEY EQUIPMENT DRIVE
THANK YOU OAKVILLE COMMUNITY
Thank you to the friends and families of the Oakville Rangers who donated hockey supplies to support northern youth. The following was collected and will be shipped in the coming weeks: three boxes of jerseys, socks and neck protectors, two boxes and two bags of goalie equipment, 90 pants, 65 pairs of gloves, 59 shoulder pads, 46 elbow pads, 26 helmets, 16 cages, 62 shin pads, and 125 pairs of skates. Great work, Oakville!