This year at our 9th Annual Equipment Drive we worked with members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Treaty Three Police Service and the Anishinabek Police Service. This year’s First Nation host communities M’Chigeeng FN (West Bay) Manitoulin and Kashechewan FN (James Bay Coast).
Click the following links to view articles about our 2018 Equipment Drive:
December 2018 – SNAP Burlington
Working in close partnership with the OPP, Treaty Three Police Service and the Anishinabek Police Service, the 2017 equipment Donation went to the Nippissing First Nation (30kms west of North Bay), as well as the Dokis First Nation (across Lake Nippissing on the French River) and Grassy Narrows First Nation, located 70kms north of Kenora received equipment in the North West region.
December 2017 – SNAP Burlington
8th Annual Winch Group Community Sports Equipment Drive
November 4, 2017 – Global News
8th Annual Winch Group Community Sports Equipment Drive
September 26, 2017 – The Hamilton Spectator & Flamborough Review
Sports equipment drive boosts Halton CAS, First Nations youth
2016 donations went to the Wasauksing First Nation in Parry Sound, as well as Shawanaga First Nation, Henvey Inlet First Nation, and Magnetawan First Nation – all from the Parry Sound area. In addition, OPP Sergeant Marty Singleton of the North West Redwater Provincial Liaison Team, flew in remotely to Neskantaga First Nation to deliver some of the collected donations to that community.
November 2016 – SNAP Burlington
7th Annual Winch Group Community Sports Equipment Drive
Oct 31, 2016 – Parry Sound North Star
Parry Sound police, Winch Group hold sports equipment drive, Wasauksing
Oct 21 & 26, 2016 – The Hamilton Spectator & Flamborough Review
By Mac Christie
Waterdown students collecting sports gear for Northern First Nations communities – St. Thomas Catholic Elementary participating in Winch Group drive for third year
Thanks to the generosity of clients, friends, partners and community members, this annual event has collected and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of sporting equipment over the past five years. The results have surpassed even our own expectations and have changed the lives of many young people in remote First Nation communities. 2015 donations went to Lansdowne House, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat First Nations.
Click the following links to view articles about our 2015 Equipment Drive:
Nov 26, 2015 – Flamborough Review
By Mac Christie
Waterdown students help kids get in the game
Nov 24, 2015 – Burlington Post
By Tim Whitnell
Burlington sports equipment drive fills two trailers for First Nations kids
For our 5th annual drive, we collected over 100 bags of hockey equipment and other sporting goods to distribute to the remote First Nation communities of Anishinabek of Whitefish River, M’Chigeeng, Aundek Omni Kaning, Sheguiandah, Zhiibaahaasing and Sheshegwaning. We also raised over $1,500 in donations for The Children’s Aid Foundation of Halton at our “tailgate” BBQ and with the help of enthusiastic teenage volunteers!
Once again working with the O.P.P.’s Highway Safety Division and Aboriginal Policing Bureau, we found two northern communities to benefit from the Equipment Drive: Long Lake #58 and Ginoogaming First Nations. Ginoogaming is a small Anishnawbe (Ojibway) First Nation located in Northern Ontario on the northern shore of Long Lake near the town of Longlac. Long Lake #58 First Nation is situated nearby along Highway 11. Each winter the Long Lake #58 First Nation participates in the “Little NHL” tournament and community leaders on the reserve encourage young people to get involved. More kids had the opportunity to participate and grow their hockey skills that year thanks to donations of used hockey equipment collected at our event.
Three communities were selected for the 2012 Equipment Drive: Whitesands First Nations community near Thunder Bay and two Cree communities on the James Bay coast – Attawapiskat and Moosonee. These First Nations are accessible only by air, except during the winter months when a “winter road” is constructed across the ice.
With the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police and due to the isolation and high rates of youth suicide, we identified Osnaburgh and Pikangikum First Nations as the recipients of the annual equipment drive.
“The Winch Group Inc. Benefit Consultants of Burlington hosted its Annual Community Sports Equipment drive, collecting money plus new and gently used sporting equipment. We appreciate having been selected as the recipient of the corporate contributions for the second year in a row and gratefully accepted a donation of $1,500 for our kids.”
This year marked the launch of our Community Equipment Drive. The donations were directed to Aroland First Nation Settlement, 350 km northeast of Thunder Bay. This community was selected because of the high rate of youth suicide among at-risk youth. When we saw positive reactions by the children and their joy at being able to get outside and play hockey, we knew that this was a cause we would continue to support.
