Xstrata Nickel recently announced a donation of $50,000 for
each of the next three years to the Sudbury YMCA and the YMCA
Strong Kids Campaign. In addition to the monetary donation,
Xstrata Nickel also signed over the deed to Camp Falcona to the
YMCA, who has been running the camp since 1998. The total
donation is worth an estimated $600,000.
 
"We are very excited and proud to be part of the YMCA family in
Sudbury," said Dan Malinski, Thayer-Lindsley Mine manager at
Xstrata Nickel. "Their work on the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign
and management of Camp Falcona is enhancing our community by
providing the kids of financially challenged families the
opportunity to keep healthy and to be included in great life
experiences. The benefits of these programs are invaluable to
the City of Greater Sudbury now and in the future."
 
"This is an exciting day for the YMCA in Sudbury," said Daran
Moxam, chair of the YMCA's board of directors. "The donation of
the property and buildings at Camp Falcona will ensure that
YMCA camping programs will happen on Nelson Lake for many years
into the future. The support given to the YMCA Strong Kids
Campaign will open YMCA doors for more children who otherwise
could not afford the fees. Xstrata's support will strengthen
our community through its families and children."
By embracing and engaging the youth of Sudbury, the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign will provide them the tools necessary to build strong communities. The program raises financial support for children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participation in a YMCA program or activity. It can enable a financially-challenged family to use a child care facility or give a child a fun and positive character-building experience at a YMCA Camp, such as Camp Falcona. The experiences of summer camp or the skills learned through a YMCA membership will stay with a child forever. Strong kids and strong families build stronger communities everywhere, a press release stated.
Camp Falcona was established in 1937 by Falconbridge's manager, at the time, Ernest Craig as a summer camp for employees' children. It was operated by the company for 60 years before being handed over to the Sudbury YMCA. The YMCA immediately integrated it with their John Island Camp programming and hired full-time professionals to run the operation.
The future looks bright as innovative outdoor programs now have a permanent home in Sudbury thanks to Xstrata Nickel, the press release stated.
