A grant of $2,000 to the Mental Health and Addictions Programs for Lake of the Woods District helped support the “Be in the Know” campaign, led by Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force. The campaign brings together many different mandates (enforcement, alcohol distributor, child welfare and social services, mental health, etc.) to combine messaging into a comprehensive local resource. The campaign will continue into 2018.

As part of the campaign the grant provided:

25 posters displayed in the community;
500 pamphlets distributed at RIDE checks over the 2016;
Christmas season, displayed at the LCBO and provided to school mental health leads;
Facebook ads displayed from December 26th – Jan. 1st, 2017

A grant of $6,000 to Beaver Brae Secondary School helped incorporate a circus camp into one of their academies, which offered an extracurricular activity for students who don’t usually participate in sports. The goal of the program was to increase at risk student engagement through circus skills and several entertainers were brought in to work with students and teachers. Many relationships were formed/strengthened and an increase in self esteem and engagement in class was observed in many of at risk students.

A grant of $3,885 to the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls helped support the 2017 Moose n’ Fiddle Festival. The Festival in Northwestern Ontario puts professional artists first, enhances cultural experiences in rural and remote areas, and helps to ensure that a summer outdoor music festival is accessible and affordable.

A grant of $9,065 to Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls helped support operations and projects for the local public libraries. With this grant, library services in both communities, Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls, continues to meet the needs of community members, seasonal residents and tourists alike.