really engaged the community with the design of the diamond. We hired a lot of the local workforce; we gave them a chance to be a part of a big project in their community. That was all received really well by the workers and by the community itself.” The originators of that project were the Kewehin Cree Nation Chief and Council and Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. (TCVI). In October 2023, they partnered to submit a proposal for funding for a new baseball diamond through the Jays Care Foundation Field Of Dreams – a granting program that provides funding to design, refurbish and build local baseball diamonds in communities across the country. In May 2024, their application was well received by the Jays Care Foundation Grants Committee and was approved by their Board of Directors. From the perspective of Kehewin Cree Nation leadership, the vision for the new baseball field was to create their own league, so members of the First nation would not have to leave offreserve to practice. They had existing baseball fields, but those hadn’t been utilized in years due to inadequate conditions. With this project, they were able to address safety concerns and lack of space for programming. According to Stephanie Angus, principal coordinator of TCVI, “the new baseball diamond, funded in part by the Jays Care Foundation, is not just a field for playing ball but a space where dreams can be nurtured, where talents can be discovered, and where bonds can be strengthened.” According to Justin, Stephanie was the one who actually approached Atlantic Fence with the opportunity to be a part of the project, which he is very grateful for: “After the Jays Care Foundation got on board, she came and talked to us,” Justin recalls. “She knew us from the community and she asked us, ‘Do you want to give back to the community and get this project going?’ We said ‘yes’ and I’m glad we did. It’s been a really great project to be involved with.” “None of it would have happened without Stephanie Angus and Tribal Chief Ventures believing in us,” he adds. “They believed a First Nations company could do something like this and that means a lot. It means a lot to us and it means a lot to the community. Honestly, it’s a big project for us, it’s an amazing chance to show what we’re capable of – but the chance to give back to the community is more rewarding than the project itself. For me, the real reward is seeing the joy and excitement that having this baseball diamond has brought to the community.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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