By Rick Garrick

WIIKWEMKOONG UNCEDED TERRITORY — Wiikwemkoong launched its fundraising campaign for the new Wiikwemkoong Elders’ Home with the announcement of major donations of $750,000 from TD Bank Group and $75,000 from Hydro One on Jan. 25. Wiikwemkoong’s goal is to raise $15 million for the new 96-bed Elders’ Home in order to replace the current 59-bed Elders’ Home, which falls short of the community’s increasing needs and does not meet current provincial regulations. The licence for the current Elders’ Home is set to expire in 2025.

“What a beautiful day we’ve had today in sharing, in coming together to celebrate this wonderful launch that we have in our community; a launch that’s going to seek out to build a building that’s going to house our Elders in a good way [and] help prepare and pave the way for others who will be at the Elders’ Home,” says Wiikwemkoong Ogimaa Kwe Rachel Manitowabi, adding that the new Elders’ Home will enable Elders to stay in the community. “Today’s funding announcements are, without a doubt, getting us closer to where we need to be in funding to build the new home. Miigwech, thank you to the corporations here today to help launch us forward, on the ground, in this powerful journey for our Elders.”

John Doris, district vice president, Commercial Banking Group in Northern Ontario at TD, says TD’s relationship with Wiikwemkoong spans close to 40 years.

“We are proud to support this project through the TD Ready Commitment, which is our corporate citizenship platform, that will bring a new home to many Elders in the community [and] keep them close to family, friends, their culture and their land,” Doris says. “At TD we’re committed to doing our part in the journey towards Truth and Reconciliation and supporting community initiatives such as this Elders’ Home is an important part of that journey as it promotes a connection to the land, fosters a sense of belonging, and it has a positive impact, not just in the community but the entire region, socially, culturally, and economically.”

Simmer Anand, manager, Indigenous Relations at Hydro One, says the new Elders’ Home is an important initiative for Elders in the community and neighbouring communities.

“Hydro One is proud to partner with the community on this very important initiative to ensure Elders from Wiikwemkoong and neighbouring communities will always have a safe and affordable place to live and to receive the required culturally-appropriate care they deserve,” Anand says. “They want to be in a place where they feel comfortable, where there is culturally-appropriate food, where traditions are followed, where again they feel like home, and we heard this from Elders today.”

Walter Manitowabi, campaign co-chair along with Duke Peltier at the Wiikwemkoong Elders’ Home Capital Campaign Committee, says they have raised $1 million in corporate and foundation donations and gifts and $750,000 from fundraising activities such as raffles, golf tournaments, benefit concerts, and a community telethon to date.

“Donors to this campaign are ensuring the stewards of our language and culture are not forced to leave the community, and in this way they are helping to preserve our culture,” Walter says. “I am very proud of our technical and fundraising teams who have been working hard on the plan to build a new long term care home in our community. And in this, there are also the countless number of people who have given and continue to give their time and financial contributions to the Elders’ Home capital campaign.”

The Wiikwemkoong Elders’ Home, which has a projected cost of $28 million, is eligible for $10.3 million in financing and a grant of $2.7 million through the Ministry of Long-Term Care.