Making a difference in our community

FirstOntario is proud and privileged to be able to assist and touch the lives of so many in our communities.

• Through team sponsorships, we've encouraged thousands of youngsters to enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle while learning the values found through team sports and sportsmanship.
  
• FirstOntario supports charities in our communities and assists Members in their fundraising activities for charitable causes.
  

We continue to assist many charities, teams and organizations. Below is a list of our most recent community activities:

 

ACT Foundation (Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation)

In January 2008, FirstOntario kicked off its efforts as a Lead Community Partner with the ACT Foundation. The ACT Foundation is a national, award-winning charitable organization dedicated to promoting health and empowering Canadians to save lives. ACT is driving a national campaign to establish CPR as a mandatory program in every Canadian high school. To date over 900,000 youth have been trained in CPR in more than 1,200 high schools across Canada. FirstOntario is playing a key role in helping to empower local youth with the skills and knowledge to save lives by committing to support the program in Hamilton area high schools. More than 4,400 Grade 9 students from 20 high schools will now be empowered to save lives every year. Eighty physical education teachers have been trained as CPR instructors and will train their students using the 660 mannequins that have been donated to their schools.

 

FirstOntario was proud to introduce the ACT Foundation’s CPR and Defibrillator training program to Niagara in February 2010. This training program, is now available in 30 local high schools and will train up to 5,700 students each year. This program is a welcome addition to the
already established region-wide grade 9 CPR training program, run by Heart Niagara Inc. The ACT Foundation is providing area high schools
with heart defibrillators and the training to use them. As a hub of activity in our communities, our high schools offer clubs, athletics, extra-curricular courses and entertainment. To have defibrillators in our schools and students with the training and know-how to use them will no-doubt save lives in our communities.

 

Visit YouTube.com and search under “FirstOntario” to see a video of the ACT Foundation’s Niagara launch.

For more information visit: www.actfoundation.ca

 

Gillian's Place

Gillian's Place, formerly known as Women's Place, is a shelter for abused women and children. They have been providing a safe refuge and non-residential programs that enable women and children to break the cycle of violence since 1977 . They provide a variety of services including: emergency shelter, counseling, outreach and legal advocacy, prevention and pro-active research.

Gillian's place recently opened their new facility in St. Catharines, which now accommodates up to 50% more women and children and provides greater privacy and accessibility. FirstOntario has committed a total $10,000 to Gillian's Place.

$5,000 will be put towards the building fund. $5,000 will be used to put together “Starter Kits” for women and children that are leaving the shelter to re-build their lives.

 

Niagara Ice Dogs

FirstOntario is proud to be a founding sponsor of the Niagara IceDogs. The Niagara IceDogs are part of the OHL; the premier junior hockey league in Ontario.  For more information visit www.niagaraicedogs.net