SPOTLIGHT ON ONTARIO: WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED
“When Spirit North comes here, they give the kids experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have — and the kids show up for that.”
Special thanks to TD, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Medavie for their generous support bringing programs to life in Ontario.
Ontario is home to some of our newest programs. This year, 2,374 students across 14 communities and 27 schools in Ontario began exploring the local waterways with our summer canoeing programs.
“Ontario is the land of lakes, and so many of these lakes and rivers are traditional waterways. Bringing Indigenous youth out on these waters and supporting their connection to the paths their ancestors walked… not guiding, not leading, but walking with them, is really important to us.”
Whitefish River First Nation, Temagami First Nation, and Pic Mobert First Nation all had students heading out on the water with Spirit North, learning skills, overcoming fear, and paddling toward self-confidence.
A highlight from this summer was that, for the first time, programs in Whitefish River First Nation brought twenty children ages 4–7 onto the water in canoes to learn new skills and explore the north shore of Lake Huron.
It's programs like these that build the foundation for youth to keep growing their skills and confidence on the water, and we’re excited to continue working with new communities in Ontario to help bring these opportunities to life.
