Funds

The Thunder Bay Community Foundation supports existing programs and services and new and innovative programs or other charitable works in the District of Thunder Bay. Each year the Foundation awards grants to charitable organizations for projects in areas including, but not limited to arts, heritage, youth, recreation, capital projects, alleviating human suffering, health and welfare and community innovation.

Volunteers are the strength and backbone of every charitable organization and the success and effectiveness of the charity is a direct relation of their knowledgeable commitment. Volunteer recruitment, training and recognition is essential for the continued growth and sustainability of all charities.

This fund will assist charities in sustaining their volunteers and address their ever-changing needs and opportunities in our community now and forever. From Board and Committee to grassroots roots training in developing individuals skills to preform day to day hands on support and fundraising this fund will financially support those training initiatives.

The Tere and Marie McDonald Fund will give consideration to requests for funds to provide for all types of training and education, strategic planning, community engagement and capacity building.

The Shirley and Meredith Nelson Fund was established in 2006 by their daughter Archdeacon Deborah Kraft. This fund provides awards for people raised on working farms who desire to pursue post-secondary health care or engineering degrees. The fund also provides annual bursaries to Thunder Bay charities.

Shirley Shrum was born in 1923 on her family farm in Gainsborough Township, Ontario. Shirley graduated as a registered nurse from Mack Training School in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. She died in 2007. MO was born in 1921 and died in 2021, reaching 100 years of active and healthy living. He too was raised on a farm near Smithville, Ontario. MO graduated from Kettering University with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree. Throughout many moves and promotions around North America, France, and England, MO finished his working career as Group President Newsprint Pulp and Forest Products, Kimberly-Clark Corporation for all of North America with 6000 personnel. Shirley and MO retired to Thunder Bay in 1984 and quickly became very involved in a life of service in the community. Their legacy is one of dedication, generosity, commitment, hard work, and faith.

Ruth Black loved Thunder Bay and left a large bequest to the Thunder Bay Community Foundation so her passion for the community would be nurtured in perpetuity. The Ruth Black Fund Grants are directed to support mental health charities or programs that assist those with mental health needs.

The Dr. R. K. Dewar Medical Research Grant was established in 1987 by Ms. Helen Dewar to honour the life and work of her brother, Dr. Robert Kerr Dewar. Dr. Dewar had faith in the future and progress of medical science and had a keen interest in cutting edge research of his day. He was particularly interested in Neuro-Regeneration and Molecular Biology.

The OECYR Fund was developed in partnership with the Province of Ontario; these funds were matched by generous donations from our community. Grants from the OECYR Fund are available to registered charities providing recreation programs for individuals less than 18 years of age.
Community recreation includes sport, recreation, fitness, youth leadership, camping, outdoor education, playgroups, the arts and cultural activities.

The Tulloch Family bursary was created in 2022 with the passing of Laurence (Laurie) Tulloch. Joanne, along with children Laurence and Nancy, wanted to ensure Laurie’s legacy of civic engagement continued through the support of youth in the community of Thunder Bay wanting to pursue a career in education. Laurie and Joanne were educators in the elementary and secondary systems in Thunder Bay with the Lakehead Public School Board. Born, raised, and educated in Port Arthur, Laurie and Joanne were strong advocates for educators being role-models and active volunteers and mentors in community. Together they believed that engaged youth develop into community-oriented adults. Joanne and Laurie encouraged involvement in sport, recreation, and music by supporting youth in these activities and volunteering themselves. Together they spent many hours coaching, serving on not-for-profit boards, fundraising and being advocates for numerous sport, health, and community-based organization. This fund will provide financial assistance to community-engaged youth pursing post-secondary studies in the education field.

The Keri Chase Foundation was formed in 2002 in memory of Keri Coleen Chase, who passed away in a tragic auto accident. Keri was continually helping injured and stray animals and birds of every description and either finding them homes or returning them to the wild from which they came. In 2013 the Keri Chase Foundation created the Keri Chase Memorial Animal Welfare Fund at the Thunder Bay Community Foundation. The grants will support animal welfare charities for specific projects, such as and not limited to spay & neutering, shelters, medical, food and general care of animals.

John served as federal Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River from 2008 to 2015.  Prior to his successful run for office, John enjoyed a career as an educator, broadcaster and community volunteer. These early experiences and John’s travels formed how he looked at the world.

John was well-respected and a true champion for his community. A caring and compassionate man, John was always open to discussion and listening. He brought a depth of caring and concern that set a standard for others to follow.

“John Rafferty was dedicated to community and service, driven by empathy and was generous with his tireless energy,”

Raised in Kitchener Ontario with his three siblings by his mother following the death of his father when he was nine, John understood hard work and determination.  John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo specializing in English and theatre arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario.  For 2 years John volunteered as a high school teacher in Nigeria and later worked in Botswana with an NGO that oversaw the re-settlement of refugees and prepared local students for schooling. Spending time in Canada’s North, John taught in Yellow Knife and served as the first high school principal in Rankin Inlet.

A believer in lifelong learning, John pursued a diploma in broadcasting at Confederation College and later became an instructor.  John always valued the viewpoint of others and while hosting a popular talk show at CKPR encouraged people to share their opinion on the day’s major issues.

John was committed to inclusion and volunteerism, supporting community organizations that encouraged efforts in grass roots engagement, the health and welfare of others and the development of arts and culture.

“John wanted to make life better for others — his family, his community and especially the most vulnerable among us.”

The John Rafferty Memorial Fund with the Thunder Bay Community Foundation honours John’s memory. Funds will support community engaged projects that ensure equal opportunities and create visions for social change and support social justice.

The Hanna & Victor Stevenson Fund was established by the estate of Mr. Stevenson in 2010 to partially support education and arts development. In his will, Mr. Stevenson intentionally left the broadest possible interpretation of education and arts development, so that the Community Foundation could direct the income from his fund to the most pressing needs of the City. As these needs change, the Hannah and Victor Stevenson Fund will remain flexible enough to change with them.

The Fort William Columbus Club was established in 1951 in the city of Fort William. Five visionaries from Fort William and Port Arthur envisioned a Social and Athletic Club that would advance the cultural and social interest of the members and others through athletic games, recreation and sports. This was their way of giving back to their community.

The FIRST DIRECTORS were Patrick Lewis O’Brien, Ernest John Elvish, Oswald Patrick Hacquoil, Tiberio Zanette and Brien O’Brien.

The focus of the fund is three-fold

1. Provide Educational Assistance
2. Support Disadvantaged Children
3. Support Registered Charities

For more information contact Columbus Centre

(807) 623-3252 or email admin@columbuscentre.ca

In 2003 Dr. S. Penny Petrone established a named fund to grant to agencies that support persons with disabilities, especially the blind. In her directions for this fund Dr. Petrone wrote: “I truly believe that the able-bodied should be responsible for their own welfare. My concern is for those, who through no fault of their own, are born disabled or have become so. Thereby, I hope to make their lives a little better.

Doreen grew up in Peel County, graduated from The Mack School of Nursing in St. Catharines and received her Diploma in Public Health from the University of Western Ontario. She practiced public health nursing with the VON in Windsor and Toronto, and then public health in Dufferin County before joining the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. Doreen has been an active member of the community as a Girl Guide leader, board member of the Canadian Red Cross, founding member of the Thunder Bay Quilter’s Guild, member of the provincial Psychiatric Review Board, volunteer at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, St. Paul’s United Church, and the founder of the Caring Community Quilters Group. Doreen values education and the importance of making a positive contribution to your community. Bill grew up in Chatham, Ontario, graduated from the University of Windsor and the University of Toronto and had a successful career in education having taught secondary school in St. Catharines before entering school administration. He was principal at both Lakeview High School and Hammarskjold High School in Thunder Bay before being appointed Superintendent of Curriculum with the Lakehead Board of Education. Bill was appointed the Returning Officer for the federal electoral district of Thunder Bay Superior North in 2000, a position he held until the spring of 2018. Bill has had extensive community involvement including being a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Thunder Bay (Port Arthur), Magnus Theatre Board of Directors, St. Paul’s United Church Board, and the local federal and provincial Liberal Riding Associations. He served as chair of the city of Thunder Bay’s Committee of Adjustment, is an active member of the Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group, is a Patient Family Advocate at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, and currently sits on a number of local boards and committees. Like Doreen, Bill values education and the importance of making a positive contribution to your community. Bill and Doreen have four adult children and six grandchildren

In 2012 the estate of Lucy Frances Ritza created the Donny Ritza Fund to “assist in the skills development of people who are mentally challenged. Donny is Lucy’s son and she wanted to honour his achievements by supporting those with disabilities.

The Mazinaajim Children’s Foundation is an Anishinabek-led charitable organization established in 2009. The mandate is to support the educational, recreational, cultural and community needs of Anishinabek children and youth in North western Ontario. Mazinaajim works with over 6000 children and families who face many social and economic challenges. The need for help is great, yet many services that are vital to the health and well-being of children and families are not funded. The Mazinaajim Children’s Foundation can meet the changing needs of children and youth with support from donors.

Danny was born in Flagogna, Friuli, Italy, on August 24th, 1944. Like so many, he was born into a time of chaos and conflict, and like so many, he ended up traveling half a world away to build a new life in a new country.

Danny was a firm believer in the Community, supporting numerous local charities and organizations. He was especially proud of his involvement with the Da Vinci Centre, where he was part of the founding building committee and later served as President, as well as his efforts and support towards the construction of St. Dominic’s Church.

Christopher Jean grew up in the construction industry. After earning a Civil Engineering Technologist Diploma from Confederation College in 2001, he began a successful career working alongside his father at MLA Northern Contracting. He married Sheri in 2009. Christopher loved being in the kitchen wearing his chef’s apron preparing meals for his wife and son, Owen, and friends. He also loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed fishing. Christopher loved his community and generously supported many local Thunder Bay charities including Shelter House and the Underground Gym. The fund is to be used to carry out activities to promote healthy lifestyles and sportsmanship for children and youth through sports, games and recreation and to “relieve poverty by providing shelter, food, clothing and other amenities to assist people in need” in the City of Thunder Bay.

Bonnie Moore and her husband Jay Eingold have been supporters of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation since she joined the Board in 2009. Giving to our community through the Foundation is their joy! They created a Fund to give money now to various charities that support youth and are leaving a Legacy Gift in their Will to ensure their appreciation for the work our great charities do is extended into perpetuity.

The Arthur Widnall Indigenous bursary is dedicated to creating opportunities for young people from the Thunder Bay Indigenous community, who as a result of economic limitations may not otherwise be able pursue post-secondary education. The goal is to help individuals further their educational pursuits and realize their highest potential and aspirations. Another goal of this bursary is to motivate young Indigenous students to inspire leadership by becoming mentors and role models for other youth (not only Indigenous youth) in the community and help create a bright future for the community of Thunder Bay.

Aileen Lahti passed away in 2008 at the age of 97. She was employed by Prudential Insurance Co. of American until her retirement after 38 years of service. Her sister Gertrude Lahti passed away in 2011 at the age of 97. She worked for 31 years for the Grain Commission. The sisters lived all of their lives in Thunder Bay.