Canoe Museum Fundraiser

March 13, 2018

“I need 35 strong men to move the dining hall to the south shore.”

... Oh, yes boys, he’s at it once again.

The significance of the number 35? … that’s how many Nor’Westers are on this email list.
And, hopefully, we can pass this on to other friends and supporters.

The actual nature of KAW’s current request (Yes, I can hear him … can’t you?) has to do with the Canadian Canoe Museum and it is best summed up by Nor’Wester and CCM fixture James Raffan:

"Creating the 1000 year home for the Canadian Canoe Museum is a $65M project, give or take. The Province of Ontario has pitched in $9M. The Feds, through Cultural Spaces Grants, have made an initial instalment on what we hope will be a $13M total contribution. The City of Peterborough is in for $4M. We hope the County of Peterborough will be in for $1M. The remaining amount (about $38M) will need to be raised in the private and corporate sectors. We’ve maxed-out our in-house fundraising capabilities and have engaged outside help and with that complement of human resources, led by a suite of superb volunteer committees, we’re hoping to get commitments for 90% of that total by the end of this year, with a plan to put shovels in the ground in 2019 or 2020. It’s an ambitious project but with a clear focus on lessons from the collection to take the country forward, particularly in the cross-cultural realm of canoe as connector to culture and environment. It’s a project of national, indeed international, scope and significance."

• We know that the canoe was (and still is) the centrepiece of Camp Kandalore. 
• We know that it is an icon of Canada, true north strong and free.
• We know KAW’s ultimate wish is for a national museum that ensures the canoe’s continued special place in this country.
• We know, from Raffan’s words above, that the time has come for a final financial push to realize this dream. 

See Museum On The Move for details

And, while we’re at it, here’s another true-blue Wipperism:

"In the strengths of our forefathers 

We have gone

Not in their footsteps

It is their stars we follow

Not their dead campfires."

Let’s keep those guiding stars burning bright for all Canadians.

So, after some consideration, I’ve arbitrarily set a target date (by June 30th, 2018) and a target amount ($50,000) for Nor’Wester donations. Are we up to this challenge? Can we create this legacy gift?

To jumpstart our campaign, I’ve just made a $5,000 contribution. Who can join me? I’m a Fur Trader, so we’re already out of the gate, surging ahead of you Voyageurs, Pioneers and Lumbermen!

Direct your donation to the Nor’Wester Fund via the following person who is pleased to answer any queries:

Shirlanne Pawley-Boyd, CFRE
Director of Philanthropy
The Canadian Canoe Museum
910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, ON  K9J 5K4
(B) 705.748.9153 x.214 Or 1.866.342.2663 x.214

With warm regards, 

Grant Linney
Kandalore 1971-1974