The communities of Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage, Sherridon and Snow Lake are enriched this week after the gift of more than $86,000 in grants from the Northern Neighbours Foundation.
The foundation provided grants to 17 groups in the City of Flin Flon’s council chambers on Wednesday, July 8.
“We just feel like Santa Claus in July,” said Northern Neighbours board member Jane Robillard as groups came up to accept their cheques.
Joe Brain Fund
The City of Flin Flon was granted $6,953 from the Joe Brain fund for renovations to Centoba Park. Funds will be used to replace fencing, posts and a backstop.
City councillor Tim Babcock accepted wearing a baseball jersey. “I’m on my way to the diamond right now,” he said.
The Northern Neighbour Smart and Caring Fund awarded funds in the amount of $5,000 for the Creighton Community Daycare to replace flooring, and $1,340 to the Flin Flon Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) to purchase cell phones.
COPP chairman Sinclair James said the phones would be for the dedicated use of volunteers, adding the group was seeking volunteers. To anyone interested, he said, “Just get hold of me. I’ll tell you the cell number when I get one,” he added to a laugh from the crowd.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #73 president Robert Penner accepted $4,300 toward the renovation of the Legion’s kitchen, damaged by flooding last year.
“We have now completely renovated the kitchen and the cupboards,” he said. “We now have a modern kitchen, and it looks like 2014-2015 instead of 1984.”
Creighton Community Centre also received funding for its kitchen. An award of $13,950 will be used to purchase a commercial stove and range hood filters.
Youth in Philanthropy
The Youth in Philanthropy program gave $3,500 to the 2328 Army Cadet Corps for the purchase of an enclosed cargo trailer to transport equipment to training sites.
Established in 2013, Youth in Philanthropy is a three-way partnership between the Thomas Sill Foundation, the Northern Neighbours Foundation and Hapnot Collegiate.
Eight Hapnot students developed parameters for grant applications, invited organizations they thought would benefit to apply, and were involved in the selection process.
Moffat family funds
Moffat family funds were given to the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre in the amount of $10,050. Executive director Shelley Craig accepted on behalf of the centre.
“This foundation is really important to our organization,” she said.
Norman Community Service received $2,695 to purchase a washer and dryer for its group home.
Association for Community Living – Vocational Training Centre will purchase eight metal rolling clothing racks for its thrift store with its $2,757 grant.
Sylvie Dufour, a vice-principal at École McIsaac School, accepted $1,200 to purchase guitars for the school’s music program. According to the school’s application, youth who participate in activities such as music and sport tend to be less likely to become involved in crime, drugs and alcohol.
“Children are the future, so we need to have them engaged now,” said Dufour.
Flin Flon Aquajets Swim Club coach Patti Lawrence accepted $3,146 to purchase new swim lane ropes. The ropes will also benefit other user groups such as Special Olympics and laps swimmers at the Aqua Centre.
Cindy McLean, library administrator for the Flin Flon Public Library, said the grant of $4,343 is being used to renovate the library’s Storytime room.
“That room downstairs was really sad, and it’s
awesome now. Linda Sonnenberg-Jackson is pretty much finished the mural, and I wish my office could be down there; it’s so fine and so happy looking.”
Accepting from Robillard, McLean said “You feel like Santa today; I feel like a kid Christmas morning.”
Alison Dallas and Carol Hydamaka accepted $4,000 on behalf of the Lords Bounty Food Bank, to be used on new kitchen appliances, office equipment and supplies. “Our chairs have duct tape on them,” said Dallas. “So this to us is like a million bucks.
Women’s Safe Haven and the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) received $5,750 to purchase furniture and games for a new common area that was created in a converted garage last year. WRC director Colleen Arnold said the room is currently being used by participants from the friendship centre’s Camp Moochkun.
She said notification of approval “came at a really great time,” two days before flooding forced Camp Moochkun to find a different space to operate. The camp was offered the WRC common area to use.
Simonhouse Bible Camp received $3,909 for new safety gear for their rock climbing activity and more stand-up paddleboards.
Chairman Joe Buie said having funds to purchase equipment helps keep fees down. “This will make it affordable for kids to go to camp,” he said.
A grant of $7,649 for the Northern Tykes Daycare in Snow Lake will buy new equipment and furniture.
Frontier Collegiate received $5,000 to purchase equipment for its weight room.
Northern Neighbours Foundation was established in 1994 on a matching grant program. Founding members raised $200,000, which was matched with $100,000 by the Thomas Sill Foundation. Over the years Northern Neighbours has accepted gifts in a variety of forms, with the largest part being gifts in memoriam.
The foundation keeps the principal and awards grants each year from the fund’s interest.
After Wednesday’s presentations, the Northern Neighbours Foundation has granted more than $190,000 into the community.
Northern Neighbours Foundation awards 2015
City of Flin Flon Centoba Park
Fence replacement, posts & backstop $6,953
Creighton Community Daycare/Smiling Hearts
Floor replacement $5,000
Flin Flon Citizens on Patrol Program
Cell phones $1,340
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #73
Kitchen upgrade $4,300
Creighton Community Centre
Commercial stove & range hood filters $13,950
Frontier Collegiate Institute
Weight room equipment $5,000
Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Head Start program, Employment Links, hostel and restaurant $10,050
Norman Community Services
Washer and dryer for group home $2,695
Association for Community Living
Clothing racks for thrift store $2,757
École McIsaac School
Guitars $1,200
2328 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps
Enclosed cargo trailer for camping and training equipment $3,500
Flin Flon Aqua Jets Swim Club
New swim lane ropes $3,146
Flin Flon Public Library
Family Storytime Room renovations $4,343
Lords Bounty Food Bank
New kitchen appliances, office equipment and supplies $4,000
Women’s Safe Haven/Women’s Resource Centre
Furniture, games for new common area $5,750
Simonhouse Bible Camp
Safety gear for rock climbing wall, paddleboards $3,909
Northern Tykes Daycare
New equipment and furniture $7,649
