Sudbury digs deep for Haiti fundraising

Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez often says his city is well known for its giving. Residents appear to be doing a lot to prove him right, as innovative ways of donating for Haiti relief efforts have sprung up across the city.

Haiti was severely affected by an earthquake on Jan. 12. Roger Sauve, the director of Greater Sudbury transit, is using an annual jug curling fundraiser he puts on to send funds to the earthquake-ravaged country.

The event organizer said jug curling revolves around the same idea as curling and the same rules, “only we use Javex bottles, filled with cement.”

The game has been played as a fundraiser at Centennial Arena in Hanmer for more than 25 years, he said.

“Providing help for Haiti is certainly something we would love to do at this point. It’s a great cause. We’re happy Councillor Cimino and council decided to support it.”

Sauve’s tournament will be held Sunday, April 11, starting at 9 a.m. at Centennial Arena.

The “magic number” of teams is 60, Sauve said. With that amount, all of the ice sheets are typically full.
Participants can enter in teams of four, at a cost of $200 per team.

The bonus of this city-led initiative is, if the money is raised through fundraising instead of a city donation, the government will match it.

All funds will go to Mission of Tears, a charity founded in Sudbury that does work in Haiti, including providing a school to those in need.

The organization was founded 20 years ago by Guy Campeau, who is regional director. It operates a number of orphanages and schools in the Caribbean country.

Mission of Tears have already taken an active role in fundraising, having held a Jan. 29 benefit concert at Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium.

“We raised $52,000. That will be matched by the federal government, dollar for dollar,” Campeau said.

Organizers said about 600 people bought tickets for the event, though it was planned on short notice.

The Rainbow District School Board was one of the sponsors of the event. Campeau is a special education teacher with the Rainbow board.

Rainbow board schools have raised $28,000 for the charity through various initiatives, which will also be doubled by the federal government, according to a press release. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board has raised more than $8,500 from its elementary and secondary schools. Campeau said the benefit concert was so successful that other activities are being considered for the coming weeks and months.