A Time for Giving

The holidays are a time for giving, and we’re pleased to announce our support of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund with a donation of $20,000. 

The Fund embodies Gord Downie’s legacy and his family’s commitment to improving the lives of First Peoples in Canada. The intention of the Fund is to continue the discussion that began with Chanie Wenjack’s story.

Chanie Wenjack was an Anishinaabe boy born in Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve in 1954. At the age of nine, Chanie was taken from his family and sent to Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. In 1966, at the age of 12 years old, Chanie ran away from the school in an attempt to reunite with his family 600 kilometres away. A week after he fled, Chanie’s body was found beside railway tracks after he succumbed to starvation and exposure.

Inspired by Chanie’s story, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. By building awareness, education, and connection between all peoples of Canada, the Fund aims to improve the lives of Indigenous people.

“We would like to thank GWL Realty Advisors for their generous donation to support our work at DWF this holiday season,” said Sarah Midanik, President & CEO, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. “By supporting DWF, you are supporting programs, campaigns, and events that bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together to foster meaningful relationships and move reconciliation forward.” 

Each year, GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA) supports organizations that make a difference across Canada. Through our national corporate citizenship program, we target key issues affecting the mental, physical and financial well-being of Canadians and address gaps in service through five pillars: education, health and wellness, arts and culture, social services, and community development.

With a focus on education, we were proud to support Pathways to Education, Start2Finish, and the Neil Squire Society earlier this year, and now the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.

“GWLRA recognizes the importance of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund’s mission,” said Ralf Dost, President. “We are committed to building relationships and moving forward in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, guided by shared principles of respect, equality, and collaboration.”

To learn more about the Fund’s work, visit their website. To learn more about our community investments, visit our website.