fundraising

Four people stand on a stage holding a large cheque for $9,700.

MRC Pontiac raises $9,700 for Centraide Outaouais

October 4, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

On October 2, MRC Pontiac hosted its third annual community breakfast in support of Centraide Outaouais, filling the Campbell’s Bay RA hall.

Warden Jane Toller addressed the crowd, thanking them for their attendance and presenting the organization’s representatives with a cheque for $9,700. She highlighted the efforts of MRC employee Rachel Soar-Flandé in soliciting donations from local residents and businesses.

The event is part of Centraide’s (known as the United Way in English) annual fundraising drive, and Outaouais Executive Director Cédric Tessier said that their overall goal for this year is $4.5 million, up $500,000 from last year.

Tessier explained that they support seven local organizations including Bouffe Pontiac and the Maison des Jeunes, which he said were “like a community insurance policy”. He added that in addition to financial contributions, Centraide also provides the local organizations with training and other forms of support.

A dark haired woman wearing a black dress stands in front of a bright blue background that reads Habitat for Humanity Northumberland. She's holding a sign that lists items on a donation shopping list.

Habitat Northumberland’s ambitious fundraising campaign enters home stretch

September 5, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Habitat for Humanity Northumberland has a fundraising goal of $50,000 to complete eight local homes, including a seven-unit townhouse project in Baltimore, just north of Cobourg.

Construction of another Habitat home right in Cobourg also continues and the organization is reaching out to local communities to help fund items through the Finish a Home campaign until Sept. 13.

CEO Cathy Borowec said the townhouse build is the largest Habitat Northumberland project ever and it’s also the largest net-zero project within Habitat for Humanity in Canada.

Campaign donors can fund specific items such as toilets, sinks, light fixtures, and flooring, but the option is there to make general monetary donations as well. A wishlist of items is available on the Habitat website.

A smiling man wearing a blue shirt stands in front of a large window with the ocean in the background.

Small community, big impact — Seaside Centre celebrates success after closure close call

June 28, 2024 by Rick Conrad

A community centre in a small oceanside community in Nova Scotia is thriving after nearly closing two and a half years ago.

Residents rallied around the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows in November 2021 after a community meeting that elected a new board of directors and revitalized volunteer efforts at the centre.

Kristopher Snarby, president of the non-profit, was one of those new board members. He said that over the past couple of years, board members and other volunteers have raised thousands of dollars to renovate the centre. It’s now holding more regular community events and has a couple of regular tenants renting space to help pay the bills.

They’ve added about $300,000 in improvements to the centre over the past couple of years to make it more energy-efficient and to turn it into a comfort centre during times of extended power outages or other emergencies.

A young boy frolics in the water at a play park spray pad, while a young woman, back to the camera walks a small child under the spray at the back of the photo.

Autism Nova Scotia mum on Liverpool play park overruns

June 18, 2024 by Rick Conrad

It’s proving difficult for QCCR News to get much more detail about an outstanding bill for an inclusive play park in Liverpool that Region of Queens taxpayers will likely have to pay.

The play park opened in October 2023 but there are still outstanding amounts to be paid.

At the June 25 meeting, municipal councillors voted to cover the difference between cost overruns and lower-than-expected fundraising. This was after Autism Nova Scotia contacted municipal staff about an overdue account of $50,962 on the $630,000 playground. Of that, $5,988.79 is interest on the unpaid bill.

The provincial organization said they believed the municipality had agreed to cover any cost overruns. Councillors couldn’t remember such an agreement and staff couldn’t produce documentation for it. Still, it appears the region will pick up the tab.

QCCR has tried numerous times to contact officials with Autism Nova Scotia. Last week, a spokeswoman said in an email that they were “unable to provide an interview at this time”.

Region of Queens to cover cost overruns, funding shortfalls for play park

June 12, 2024 by Rick Conrad

A universally designed play park in Brooklyn, Queens Co., that opened in October 2023 to much fanfare and after years of local fundraising efforts still has bills outstanding.

Region of Queens council on Tuesday voted to cover $50,962 in unpaid bills. Almost $6,000 of that is accumulated interest on the debt.

A local fundraising team, working with Autism Nova Scotia, gathered about $100,000 in donations for the $630,000 playground, designed to be fully accessible and inclusive. The region donated the land, contributed an extra $111,773 and agreed to own and maintain the park. ACOA and the Nova Scotia government topped up funding.

Autism Nova Scotia, however, stated that they told the municipality’s senior staff last week about funding shortfalls and cost overruns, and that it believed that the municipality would cover it.

Some councillors said they don’t recall agreeing to do that. But they still voted to pick up the tab.

Two people stand in front of a large black reception desk. The one on the left is wearing a black shirt and black shorts with short hair that is half green half blue down the centre. The person on the right has their long hair pulled into a bun and is wearing white framed glasses and a long grey dress

Nanaimo stylists host haircut-athon for cat rescue

May 17, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

To give back to the community, Nanaimo hair stylists are coming together to host a haircut-athon this weekend.

During the cut-athon, hairstylists will be offering cash-only haircuts at low prices to raise money for the CatNap Society. CatNap (Cats Needing Aid and Protection) is a volunteer-based cat rescue that rescues abandoned or feral cats.

Myles Straga, owner of Vivid Edge Salon & Spa and Heather Fairley, who works at Rich 1 Beauty, are both offering haircuts at the fundraiser. Straga has hosted cut-athons in the past as a way to give back to the community.

Straga says he wants to give back to CatNap after they were able to help him with his cat. He also says this event is also to reconnect with people after the pandemic.

The haircut-athon will be taking place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at 2145 Bowen Rd. in Nanaimo.

A group of people stand on a stage next to a podium in front of three sets of windows holding a banner which says $955,000.

Northumberland United Way sets legacy fundraising goal of $955,000

May 3, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Northumberland United Way’s fundraising goal for the 2024-2025 campaign is a tribute to the organization’s 55 years in service.

Executive director Alicia Vandine said the goal is $955,000 for the fundraising is related to the theme “A Legacy of Caring”. She noted the first goal set by the United Way 55 years ago was just $30,000. There has been major growth since those early days — it was announced at the campaign’s kickoff breakfast Wednesday that the 2023-2024 campaign raised more than $873,500.

This year’s $955,000 target was chosen because it contains the numbers 55,000, representing the United Way’s 55 year history.

United Way also revealed their 2024 funded community partners during the breakfast — it will fund programs from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northumberland; Community Care Northumberland; Community Counselling and Resource Centre; The Help Centre; Rebound Child & Youth Services; WrapAround Northumberland; and the Salvation Army.

Sisi sonriente y sentada frente a un piano

Sisi Kleiner-Fisman, embajadora y oradora destacada en evento benéfico de Chai Lifeline Canadá

March 14, 2024 by Ivette Hernández

La convincente voz, historia y espíritu de resiliencia de Sisi Kleiner-Fisman, una niña de 12 años sobreviviente de cáncer, le ha dado la oportunidad de convertirse en embajadora canadiense de Chai Lifeline Canadá en el último año.

Actualmente ha sido nombrada “Impact Speaker” en el evento ‘Harmony & Hope’ un evento de celebración de gala por los 18 años de Chai Lifeline Canadá, que estará honrando a Veronica y Andrea Bocelli, y presentando el discurso e interpretación de piano de Sisi el próximo 9 de abril.

“Es un gran honor, y estoy muy emocionada. Significa que puedo compartir mi historia con otras personas, para que tal vez puedan ayudar a apoyar a Chai Lifeline,” expresó Sisi con respecto a su participación.

Chai Lifeline Canadá es una organización dedicada a ayudar a familias que viven situaciones de enfermedad y pérdidas, con el evento ‘Harmony & Hope’ la organización busca recaudar fondos para seguir con sus actividades.

“Es una organización increíblemente compasiva, amable y caritativa que nos ayudó, cuando Sisi estaba enferma a los 3 años. Le diagnosticaron cáncer, y fue un año muy difícil para nosotros como familia y para ella. Y High Lifeline nos apoyó, y ha estado en nuestra vida todos estos años,” dijo Galit Kleiner, madre de Sisi.

This picture shows one of the tents at the encampment in Cobourg. The tents also have a wood stove inside and were purchased donations from an online fundraising campaign. It is an overcast day.

Nearly $20,000 raised for tents, wood stoves at Cobourg encampment

January 16, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Organizers of a GoFundMe campaign for residents of the encampment in Cobourg have raised nearly $20,000 since early December.

Jenni Frenke said 15 individual and couples tents, wood stoves and accompanying safety equipment have been purchased as a result of the online donations from Winter Survival for Camp 413. She estimates another $4,000 to $5,000 to keep up with demand as there is a waiting list.

Frenke said funds were also used to purchase a larger community tent, which is equipped with two wood stoves.

CFWN also caught up with Cobourg Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Ashfield about the department’s regular checks at the encampment and ensuring the tents and wood stoves are compatible.

Blaine Higgs, a white elderly man in a blue suit, addressing a crowd of seated people in room with fluorescent lighting.

What was the Premier of New Brunswick doing in Abbotsford, B.C.?

January 12, 2024 by Charles Brockman

Last week, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs visited Abbotsford, British Columbia for an unusual purpose. Higgs hosted a fundraiser and “Q&A session” for an audience of roughly 100 Abbotsford locals, to support his campaign for the upcoming New Brunswick provincial election in October 2024.

Though legal, his actions raised the eyebrows of many of Higgs’ opponents and some critics.

“To me, this isn’t about the technicalities of it—it’s about the politics of it,” said J.P. Lewis, a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick.

“I’m curious if some of the focus was on ‘Policy 713’,” said Lewis, correctly referring to a piece of NB legislation that now compels school teachers to get parent’s consent before using the preferred name or pronouns for students under 16.

CIVL Radio covered the fundraising event and spoke with Lewis to break down the political and cultural context behind Higgs’ visit.

Local hockey player Ethan Miedema on a mission to honour mother’s breast cancer battle

January 10, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Cobourg’s Ethan Miedema of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs is raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society this season in tribute to his mother Amy.

In November, she celebrated 11 years cancer-free following a battle with breast cancer. Miedema is more than halfway to his goal of raising $10,000.

The 18-year-old is in his third OHL season after originally being selected fourth overall by the Windsor Spitfires in 2021 and traded to Kingston midway through last season in a blockbuster deal involving top NHL draft pick Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken.

Last June, Miedema was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Entry Draft.

CFWN caught up with Miedema to discuss how it’s going in Kingston, attending the prospect and main camps of the Sabres and Miedema’s Mission.

Pictured are Opération Nez Rouge vests. They are red and include a reindeer.

Opération Nez Rouge marks 40th campaign

December 25, 2023 by Taylor McClure

Opération Nez Rouge is launching its 40th campaign this year and the safe-ride service is inviting the population to get involved in raising awareness around impaired driving.

Running under the theme “You are Cordially Invited,” Julie Martineau, coordinator for Operation Nez Rouge, said that the goal with this year’s campaign is to expand the Operation Nez Rouge movement to other communities and to invite people to play their part in supporting the cause. The money that is raised through the safe-ride service is invested in programs related to the development of youth and amateur sports.

This year, there are 47 local host organizations in Quebec that will be offering the safe-ride service to community members during the holiday season, five of which are located in the Eastern Townships.

These organizations are located in Granby, Sherbrooke, Coaticook, Magog, and Drummondville serving various towns in the region.