Jays celebrating National Aboriginal Day on Walpole Island

The Jays Care Foundation has released more details about the festivities planned for Wednesday on Walpole Island.

To celebrate National Aboriginal Day, representatives from Jays Care Foundation will join Chief Dan Miskokomon and the children and youth of Walpole Island First Nation for the grand opening of newly refurbished baseball diamonds, made possible by Jays Care’s Field of Dreams program.

Following the opening, Jays Care staff will host a baseball clinic for local youth baseball players.

Jays Care Foundation officials said in 2016, Walpole Island First Nation was granted $137,000 through the Field of Dreams program, which provides funding to design, refurbish, and build safe spaces for children and youth.

The grant was used to replace fencing and install outfield fencing at two diamonds, as well as build a new concession stand and accessible bathroom facilities, Jays Care Foundation officials said.

The newly refurbished diamonds will provide access to baseball for more than 150 local youth.

To date, Jays Care has invested almost $10 million in 80 infrastructure projects across Canada.

Together with more than 30 First Nations across Canada and like-minded partner organizations, Jays Care is designing sport, recreation, and leadership programs and facilities that are tailored to meet the unique strengths, needs, and circumstances of each individual First Nation.

The festivities get underway at 11 a.m.

For more information, visit www.jayscare.com.

Part of Summer Solstice Celebration

The Toronto Blue Jays event is a part of the overall ‘Bkejwanong Summer Solstice Celebration.’

The activities will take place at the baseball diamonds on Austin Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This year’s event will double as the official grand opening of the newly refurbished ball diamonds upfront, but we still plan on having all of the great activities that we had last year,” Walpole Island staff stated in their promotional material.

“As another exciting addition, Sportsnet that will be on site filming some of the celebration, so it will be a great opportunity to showcase our community. Some of the footage will be broadcast at the Jays away game that evening and will also be broadcast at their home game on June 27.”

The event will feature LIVE music, from Sweet Pea & the Elderberry, Jammers, The Isaac Brothers, Spencer Brigham, Don and Ron Barnier and Walpole Island’s own drum group, Snye Creek.

There will also be free hot dogs, drinks, snacks, inflatables, horse shoes.

Vendors are welcome and there are no fees, they just need to bring their own tables.

Read more of our coverage, here:

Blue Jays event part of Walpole’s ‘Solstice Celebration’

Toronto Blue Jays coming to Walpole Island

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