Latest news with #MakeWayCharitableSociety
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘A game changer': Donation from Shania Twain helps fight food insecurity in Winnipeg
Shania Twain performs at the Scotiabank Saddledome during the Calgary Stampede on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) A $15,000 donation from music superstar Shania Twain is helping to fight food insecurity in Winnipeg and keep wildfire evacuees fed. The funds from the Shania Twain Foundation to MakeWay Charitable Society—Climate Change Connection will assist in increasing refrigeration space at Community Helpers Unite—a non-profit organization working to end food insecurity in Winnipeg's North End. The increased refrigeration space—in the form of a 40-foot refrigerated shipping container—will help expand the organization's meal output by hundreds of meals per day, according to Kyle Bowman, operational culinary director for Community Helpers Unite. 'It helps in the increased capacity. I have the ability to bring in more from donations as well as from different community partners,' said Bowman. 'So now it's just bringing in more labour, bringing in more processing power and cooking for longer hours.' Bowman said the organization is currently producing over 6,000 meals daily for wildfire evacuees on top of about 1,100 meals for community members. 'It's a game changer, really,' said Jennifer McRae, program outreach associate with Climate Change Connection. McRae said that once emergency efforts are over to feed wildfire evacuees, the refrigerated container will be used to build a food distribution hub in Winnipeg—taking advantage of large surpluses of food that cannot make it to market. 'Winnipeg's currently missing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds of food a day because we don't have this cold storage in place, and it's contributing further to food waste,' said McRae. She added that rotting food produces methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide, and that food waste prevention also positively impacts the climate. The donation comes as part of a larger commitment by the Shania Twain Foundation to fund 375,000 meals nationwide to fight hunger. -With files from CTV's Jamie Dowsett
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shania Twain Foundation Funds 375,000 Meals to Fight Hunger Nationwide
TORONTO, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Shania Twain is bringing more than music to Canada this summer. As her long-awaited tour sweeps across the country, the iconic singer-songwriter is making a powerful statement offstage by funding 375,000 meals for people facing food insecurity through a major donation from the Shania Twain Foundation. "Giving back to the places that shaped me has always been part of who I am," said Shania Twain, founder of the Shania Twain Foundation. "This tour is not just about performing. It is about making sure communities have what they need and showing up with heart. At the Shania Twain Foundation, we believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food." The foundation has committed $125,000 through its national partnership with Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization, supporting local food programs in five tour cities: Calgary, Moose Jaw, Quebec City, Ottawa, and Toronto. Each region will receive $25,000 to address immediate food security needs in their communities. Additionally, the foundation is donating $25,000 directly to the West Prince Caring Cupboard in Prince Edward Island, expanding the initiative's reach to support food insecurity across multiple communities in the province. Beyond these planned initiatives, in response to Manitoba's wildfire crisis, an additional $15,000 will be donated to Make Way Charitable Society - Climate Change Connection, to support the urgent cold storage needs for emergency food rescue in Winnipeg. These funds will support cold storage infrastructure to increase emergency food hub capacity and reduce spoilage. The latest findings from Statistics Canada show that food insecurity affects 10 million Canadians, including 2.5 million children. The need for immediate relief is greater than ever. "This incredible contribution from the Shania Twain Foundation will have an immediate impact in addressing food insecurity in communities across the country," Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest said. "It's a powerful testament to Shania's deep passion for food access and her commitment to meaningful action. Thanks to the Foundation, many thousands of people will receive the nourishment they need at a time when it's needed most. We are profoundly grateful to be working together to create real, lasting change." The foundation's commitment to fighting hunger extends beyond Canadian borders. As part of Shania's North American tour, the Shania Twain Foundation is also providing direct support to food banks across the United States, including organizations in Montana, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Founded by the award-winning singer and humanitarian, the Shania Twain Foundation focuses on supporting children and families affected by poverty. Its programs emphasize food access, mental health support, and educational opportunities in underserved communities throughout North America. Shania's full Summer 2025 tour schedule can be found here. To learn more, visit and SOURCE The Shania Twain Foundation View original content to download multimedia:
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Applications open for leadership-building canoe trip
Goliah Makletzoff-Cazon remembers her first trip on the Kearl River vividly. 'It was so challenging when I was in it,' she said. 'I remember my first trip. We were in wildfire season. We were in lightning position and there was a huge storm around us. I was like, crying, saying, 'I don't want to be here anymore!' — and then coming out the other side of that. The program director came up to me and asked me if I wanted to come back and do some training to be a leader and I was like, 'Heck yeah!' 'It was very self-fulfilling and I felt very accomplished.' That was 10 years ago. Since then, Makletzoff-Cazon, who hails from Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson, has spent her summers bringing that experience to as many Northern youth as she can. Enter Northern Youth Leadership (NYL) — a nonprofit initiative of the MakeWay Charitable Society, for which Makletzoff-Cazon serves as program coordinator. The organization is partnering with Black Feather wilderness adventure company to lead a two-week canoe expedition for youth, running from July 18 to Aug. 1. Free to attend, the excursion is a two-week course on canoeing rapids. Also supporting the project is the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association, Ecology North and Tulita Dene First Nation. 'We run land-based education programs to empower youth to be leaders in their communities,' said program director Dr. Steph Woodworth. 'Our younger youth camps focus on engagement and education, getting them introduced to different land based skills. Making sure they feel safe on the land, have fun and cultivate a relationship between themselves and the land. 'In the older age-based approach, we try to do more employment and empowerment, helping them hone in on their skills as land stewards, offering certifications that can help with future employment and cultivate their leadership qualities through that more in-depth type of programming.' They explained that the Leadership Development Program, as the expedition has been dubbed, was built out of a previous program that made use of the Kearl River. It is open to youth age 17 to 30. Youth will be paired with mentors, added Woodworth. In total, nine youth, nine mentors and nine canoes will make the trip. They noted participants would learn important safety tips surrounding canoeing fast waters. 'Reading the river is a big part of the safety and skills required to navigate white water,' said Woodworth. 'You really need to know what the river is saying to you. What are your markers and obstacles you need to consider, what is the route you're going to take to in order to get through the rapid? 'You might have a gameplan going into the rapid and it doesn't end up the way you think. Being ready in case someone capsizes or the route doesn't go the way anticipated. Part of that is scouting, getting out of your canoes and looking at the river, making sure everyone does it safely.' Woodworth added that the aim was to get a mix of experience among participants so both eager paddlers and those unable to access the activity normally can both learn and grow. Through the course, paddlers will receive certification in Introduction to Moving Water, Canoe Tripping/Camping and Canoe Rescue. 'With the Kearl River, during moving water you can gain more distance,' said Makletzoff-Cazon.'It's an easier river to introduce any level of paddler to. You can take more challenging routes to practice movements and manoeuvres as well. 'You're learning as you go on the river, so being aware of what's going on down river. It's so easy to build paddling skills along this route.' The deadline to apply is June 6. Visit to submit an application. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
