THUNDER BAY — About 1,500 kilograms of hockey gear has been donated for use by youth at Slate Falls First Nation, 120 km north of Sioux Lookout.
The donation was made by WestJet to Mikinakoos Children's Fund, with equipment contributed by several hockey organizations in Southern Ontario including the Oakville Hornets of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association, the Mississauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, and the Oakville Rangers and Milton Winterhawks from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.
WestJet said the items amount to about 100 bags of gear, and followed on the heels of a donation of nearly 320 kilograms of hockey gear by WestJet to Mikinakoos in 2022.
Purolator and WestJet covered packaging and shipping costs, while North Star Air expedited the delivery of the equipment from Thunder Bay to Slate Falls.
"Contributions like those facilitated by WestJet are instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for First Nations children in our partner communities, providing essential tools and opportunities for them to pursue their passion for hockey and sports," said Mikinakoos executive director Emily Shandruk.
"We're grateful for this collective generosity, which enriches the experiences and opportunities of young First Nations athletes."
Clifford Comber, WestJet's manager of materials for Eastern Canada, said sports play a crucial role in shaping important life skills during childhood.
He said the company is grateful to be working with Mikinakoos Children's Fund and community partners on an initiative that will help remove barriers and impact the lives of young athletes.
