Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program

With the first day of school just around the corner, parents are frantically running around shopping for school supplies and new clothes for their children. However, this is not the only financial strain parents feel around this time of the year. Fall also marks the beginning of registration for many sports and recreational activities. Understandably, sports are often one of the first things on the list of priorities that can get cut when a family is struggling to make ends meet.


The truth of the matter is though, sports and recreation are necessary for kids – for health, happiness, confidence, and overall well-being

Fortunately, our community has many programs to make sure no child is stuck on the sidelines. 

One such program is Canadian Tire Jumpstart . 

The Canadian Tire Jumpstart program is a national charity, made up of local committees, which serve to remove the financial barriers of getting kids involved in sports. Funds are raised locally (mainly through Canadian Tire, Sport Check, Atmosphere…etc), and they STAY locally to help the families in our own community. We are extremely fortunate as we live in a very giving community, so we have quite a large budget to give out to the families in need. Families can receive up to $300 per child, per submission session (total of up to $600 per year) to cover registration, equipment, and/or travel costs associated with organized sport programs. 

To give you an idea of what Jumpstart has done since 2011:

• RMWB committee members have helped 66 kids.
• Our Chapter (meaning the RMWB chapter, including all committee members) have helped 466 kids.
• Alberta has helped 66,017 kids.
• Canada has helped 779,005 kids.

Annual Pancake Breakfast

More Than Oil-History book of Fort McMurray

Long term resident, Frances K. Jean, recently published a history book of Fort McMurray entitled More Than Oil - Trappers, Traders and Settlers of Northern Alberta.  


Frances moved to Fort McMurray in 1967 and raised her family here.  She's been a supporter of endless community based initiatives and events and has a strong passion for the Region's history.  This passion is well represented in her book as the tone of all her stories and writings are very touching and personal. 


Frances dedicates her book to the memory of her husband, Bernard Charles Philip Jean, who told her she could do anything if she really wanted to.  
More Than Oil is a series of short stories that highlight local people, events, happenings and all other possible topics relating to Fort McMurray.  Frances provides detailed information about many colourful and interesting characters and recalls memories of when her family moved here in the 60's.  


This book is a wonderful read for any interested person hoping to grasp the depth of community and history that is here.  It is a book of wealthy knowledge that I am pleased Mrs. Jean took the time to write.  


More Than Oil is for sale at Heritage Park's gift shop.   
1 Tolen Drive Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1G4(780) 791-7575

WinterPLAY volunteers accepted donation from the community

Fort McMurray community supports local causes during recent Syncrude winterPLAY Festival

Fort McMurray, AB, March 28, 2012 – During the recent 2012 Syncrude winterPLAY Festival money was raised to support local causes.

Events Wood Buffalo volunteers accepted donations for the Parsons Creek Landing fire victims throughout the winterPLAYGROUND weekend down on the Snye. Local talent putting on the Hot Acts Cool Plays festival also decided to donate any proceeds received from theirperformances. Over $1000 was raised thanks to the generosity of this community and distributed through the United Way. www.fmunitedway.com

Two-legged and four-legged representatives of the Fort McMurray SPCA were at the winterMARKETPLACE where they were able to raise $3680 towards providing shelter, care, nutrition, and love to an annual average of 1,000 abandoned, lost, homeless, and neglected animals in this region. www.fortmcmurrayspca.ca

Through donating their time and energy to tend bar at events throughout 3 weeks of the festival, the Holy Trinity Music Parent’s Association raised $9000 towards the Holy Trinity Band and Choir trip to Orlando, Florida, in May to take part in Magic Days at Walt Disney World.

Knowing of the Fort McMurray Boys and Girls Club need for a new roof, Events Wood Buffalo and YMM Podcast teamed up to auction off a jersey signed by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers star rookie, via social media on www.ymmpodcast.com. With her winning bid of over $700, which she generously increased to $1000, local Fort McMurray businesswoman Stephanie Lopushinsky took home the jersey. www.fmbgc.ca

Photo of jersey presentation attached, from left to right: Howard Rensler, Kingston, Stephanie Lopushinsky, Toddske, Nick Fee.

Media contact:

Brea Burton
Marketing & Communications Manager
Events Wood Buffalo
780.791.1600

www.eventswoodbuffalo.com