That’s a wrap on another amazing year! Thank you to everyone who engaged, shared, and applied to our 2024 Medallion May 6K Community Giveaway.
Thank you to all First Responders for your courageous service in your communities and for allowing us this small opportunity to show our gratitude and support. With over 30 applications from professional, volunteer and retired First Responders across the province, it is evident that our communities are in good hands.
On June 7th our Selection Committee came together to make the incredibly difficult decision surrounding this year’s fund allocation. With a limited budget of $6,000 to go around and so many worthy initiatives, it was a challenge to narrow it down to only a few recipients.
“Sitting on the sponsorship committee for the Medallion 6K Community Giveaway has been an incredibly rewarding experience and sheds light on the continued need within our communities. Not only do we committee members get the opportunity to help these organizations do so much good but it also provides us all with a much needed reminder that we must continue to help where we can to allow our communities to thrive. It is an honour and a privilege to provide much needed funding to such worthwhile community partners”
Josh Fentin, McFarlan Rowlands Account Executive and May 6K Community Giveaway Selection Committee Member.
Without further ado, please read on to see the 2024 May 6K Community Giveaway recipients!
Chatham-Kent Victim Services – Project Lifesaver
Chatham-Kent Victim Services is a division of the Chatham-Kent Police Service that assists victims of crime and tragedy. Their collaborative, community focused approach empowers survivors through education and advocacy, and their focus includes a model supporting compassion, respect, dignity and privacy.
As a desirable retirement destination (lower housing costs and warmer winters), a third of the population is 60 or older. As such, the funds received from Medallion will be directed to Project Lifesaver.
In the application, it was explained that “Project Lifesaver is a method to locate wandering missing persons with cognitive impairments. Participants of the project wear a bracelet that contains a radio frequency unique to them. When a participant wanders away, police can locate that radio frequency, drastically reducing the time of the search, resulting in better outcomes” – Michael Pearce, formerly of the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
“The cost of the bracelets are a barrier for many families. Funding would allow families to participate at no cost to them. Donations will assist with securing bracelets for vulnerable people in our community and provide their families some comfort in knowing the police can significantly reduce location time.”
Anishinabek Police Service – Nippising First Nation Hand Drums
Anishinabek Police Service (APS) provides effective, efficient, proud, trustworthy and accountable service that ensures Anishinabek, and it’s residents and visitors are safe and healthy while respecting traditional cultural values and the protection of inherent rights and freedoms on traditional territories.
In the application, APS Sergeant Chantal Larocque outlined that “Our Police Service, like all other Indigenous Police Services, is not funded like regular Police Services in Ontario. This is a fact that few people know or understand. We do not have funds for community services aside from working with our funds that are meant to cover operational needs. I would love to access some funds to assist with the many projects I initiate within our communities when there are needs.”
Sgt. Larocque will direct the funds received from Medallion to support a number of community programs and initiatives within the regions she works in. Specifically, “We currently have a school that educates many of our little people from Nipissing First Nation and their hand drums are beyond repair. They require funds for them to be replaced, including the protective bags. Kids can really learn their language through song, including their culture and heritage.”
Town of Oakville Water Air Rescue – Essential Operational Equipment
Town of Oakville Water & Air Rescue (TOWARF) is a division of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and has been in service for 70 years providing marine search and rescue service with the primary goal of saving lives at risk on Western Lake Ontario. Started in 1954 by Oakville then Police Chief Fred Oliver in partnership with the local boating community, TOWARF has been patrolling the waters off Oakville ever since. With more than 50 trained volunteers, TOWARF is on duty 32 hours a week and on call 24/7 to the Rescue Centre and Halton Regional Police Service during the boating season.
In the application, TOWARF volunteer Walter Pastorious stated that “Our highly trained committed volunteers are on the water from April to October, saving lives, servicing the general public in any distress situation. The acquisition of operational equipment comes at a high cost, and TOWARF relies on the generous support of the community to ensure that they have the tools and equipment necessary to continue their life-saving work.”
TOWARF will direct the funds received from Medallion to help purchase new radar, cameras and infrared sonar to elevate their operations.
Georgian Bay Volunteer Search & Rescue – Emergency Rescue Equipment
Georgian Bay Volunteer Search & Rescue was founded 25 years ago to assist police in finding lost or injured individuals and bringing them to safety. Team members bring their own gear, and they cover the costs of essential equipment through annual fundraising efforts.
In the application, GBVSAR Training Coordinator Shannon Koppenhoefer explained that “Natural disasters and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, which is why trained volunteers are needed to support existing First Responders. Our team of volunteers is always ready to assist during these deployments. We help with staffing reception shelters, providing first aid, sandbagging during floods, performing wellness checks, and searching for injured or lost people. In order to address emergency calls, it is imperative that we update and replace crucial equipment such as our rescue litter, which is used to safely evacuate an injured person. The rescue litter is essentially a large metal basket in which a patient is wrapped in blankets and tarps, then carried by six team members to paramedics or a medical treatment area.
GBVSAR will direct the funds received from Medallion to help purchase a basket wheel and set of shoulder harnesses for lifting and carrying the litter. These new tools will improve the safety and ergonomics of carrying the patient and litter, and save energy and effort for the team allowing a smaller team to complete the same task more efficiently.
The Phoenix Canine – Trauma Therapy Dogs
The Phoenix Canine is a peer led, registered not for profit organization that provides therapy dog visits to people who have experienced trauma in their service to the public. They also offer training classes to support their Service and Therapy Dog programs.
In the application, Sara Dodd, Founder of The Phoenix Canine Initiative described how “We are invited to bring therapy dogs to visit organizations at pre-arranged times such as police stations, fire halls, hospitals, court services, corrections, and EMS while staff are on shift. This brings joy and helps decrease stress while on the job. Most of our volunteers have First Responder backgrounds, so they understand the environments that they are entering and the work they experience on a day-to-day basis.”
The Phoenix Canine has directed the funds received from Medallion to expand their volunteer onboarding due to growth within the program.
Kenora Fire and Emergency Services – Wildland Firefighting Education & Equipment
Kenora Fire & Emergency Services is a composite municipal fire department with 14 Career Staff (Chief, Deputy and 12 Firefighters) and approximately 24 Paid per Call Firefighters. “Our municipality is approximately 15,000 persons and swells to over 40,000 during vacation season (May long weekend to Labour Day) that works diligently to provide service to its residents, but struggles with the vast array of services it provides.” – Dave Pratt, City of Kenora Director of Emergency Services and Fire Chief.
In the application, Chief Pratt revealed that “After learning that threats of wildland urban interface fires have increased in recent years, planning public education campaigns to educate residents to protect themselves has become top priority. Should that fail, the final line of defense is wildfire response.”
Wildland Urban Interface firefighting is very different to structural firefighting and requires different equipment including portable pumps, forestry hoses, water back packs, nozzles, saws, hand tools and respiratory protection to do the job safely and effectively. Therefore, the funding donation from Medallion will help with the purchase of additional wildland firefighting equipment for staff.
Nishnawbe Aski Police Service – Bridging Communities Initiative
The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) is a law enforcement agency servicing the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory in Ontario. It is one of the largest First Nations Police Services in Canada, covering approximately two-thirds of the province of Ontario.
The officers of NAPS undergo specialized training to better understand and address the social, cultural, and historical context of the communities they serve. They often work closely with community leaders, elders, and local organizations to build trust and foster positive relationships.
NAPS focuses not only on law enforcement but also on community policing, crime prevention, and supporting the well-being of community members. They address a wide range of issues, including substance abuse, domestic violence, youth engagement, and mental health challenges, with a holistic approach that emphasizes collaboration and support. Overall, NAPS plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities while respecting their cultural traditions and promoting community well-being.
In the application, Sergeant Adam Cooper explained that “There is a pressing need to foster positive relationships between the youth and law enforcement. To address these challenges, a ‘Bridging Communities’ initiative has been launched, aimed at bringing police officers and youth together through series of engaging activities and events. This initiative aims to create a positive and inclusive environment where police officers and youth can come together, interact, and learn from each other. “
The donation from Medallion will contribute to funding this initiative and creating a safer, heathier, and more vibrant future for all residents.
Congratulations to each of this year’s Medallion May 6K Community Giveaway Recipients!
For any questions or inquiries, please contact
Sarah Heiser, Director of Group Partnerships
sheiser@mcfr.ca
1-800-339-9935