Building Forever TOGETHER

Success Stories:

Paterson First Nations Youth Apprenticeship Program:

Paterson First Nations Youth Apprenticeship Program

First Nations youth in the Lake of the Woods Region are gaining valuable first time job skills thank to the generosity of Andrew Paterson and family.

The Paterson Family established a $500,000 endowment fund with the Kenora and Lake of the Wood Regional Community Foundation in 2006.  Proceeds from the endowment help to place students with local professional workplaces for the summer months, where they gain a meaningful start to their working careers.

In August 2009, Mr. Paterson met with the five students benefiting from the program; two were placed at the Paterson Medical Centre. two worked at the Kenora Area Health Access Centre and one was placed with Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services. All the students received training in the medical field. “Im very impressed with what the girls have done and they’re a very good reflection of what I wanted to accomplish with this endowment fund,” said Paterson. Student Melissa Skead expressed her thanks to Paterson for giving her the opportunity to work a field she had dreamed about. Through this opportunity, she is now looking to enroll in the pre-health program at Confederation College.



Dream Big, Dreams Do Come True :

Kenora Baseball League, Receiving Grant June, 2009

“This is what the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation offers our Region – The capacity to dream. To look outside the box and make the impossible – possible.” – Denise Forsyth
For the Kenora Baseball League (new name, now that we are part of Baseball Manitoba) the Community Foundation has enabled our Club to purchase the right tools to teach our young ballplayers the sport of baseball.
Building a child’s confidence by using proper equipment creates a positive playing atmosphere and a healthy community. Partnerships with community organizations, business and the City have be initiated and sustained through the Challenge Grant process, which in turn has enabled our Club to be affordable and accessible to all youth in Kenora.
In recognition of the significant contributions made to Kenora Baseball League our Club  will show our gratitude to the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation by having a new team on the roster –  the Community Foundation Dreamers.
Submitted by Denise Forsyth, Grant recipient, June 2009 (City of Kenora for Tri-Municipal Baseball League)