Two local recipient organizations chosen from across Canada for Jumpstart sports funding

In September, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities announced an $8 million sport relief fund to help sports and recreation organizations continue to deliver programming in 2020 and beyond.  

Many community organizations have been forced to shut their doors due to the financial burden created by COVID-19 and resulting lost revenue and increased program costs.  

In a recent media release by Canadian Tire Jumpstart and according to a nationwide survey of 1,300 sport organizations, 73% of community sport organizations are temporarily closed and more than 50% will not resume operations until 2021. With a 15-year history of supporting access to sport and play for kids across Canada and an understanding of the role sport plays in the health and well-being of kids and their families, Jumpstart is doing everything possible to help community sports continue by providing grants to cover programming and operation needs for sport and play.

In Saugeen Shores, two recipient organizations were chosen by the Jumpstart program this year (2020) – the local Saugeen Shores Figure Skating Club ($4,500) and Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) ($3,000) [although totals are being confirmed].

When it comes to the local Jumpstart program, for several years Mowbray’s Canadian Tire  has provided a wide range of sports equipment with funds raised locally.  “We were only too happy to help,” said Mike and Eleanor Mowbray. “We think all kids should have access to outdoor activities, whether or not their families can afford the equipment.  We are also proud that funds raised here through the program, up to now, have always stayed local for our kids.” 

In March of 2019, Mowbrays provided cross-country skis that will enable students to take part in outdoor skiing for the next 10 years and, then, in February of this year (2020), the Mowbray family provided another 25 pairs of cross country skis and poles and 12 pairs of snowshoes.

In a recent media release, SDSS Vice-principal Kelly Wilkins said that with the recent grant, the Jumpstart program has enabled the school to purchase two class sets of snowshoes for elementary and secondary students at SDSS to use this winter in order to allow students to be physically active and be outdoors while continuing to socially distance.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our students this winter thanks to the Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program,” says Wilkins.