Molson in the Community

On Monday, September 22^nd Cam Atchison, the District Sales Manager for Ottawa, and his team joined me at a Volunteer Canada initiative in Ottawa to help create a community garden. 

Over 100 volunteers from VC’s Corporate Council showed up for the event which was a collaborative effort between Sustainable Living Ottawa East and Lady Evelyn Elementary School that was driven by the Grades 4/5/6 students.  The children were the planners, workers and visionaries behind the entire project!  Teams added value to the project by helping to complete some of the larger structural projects such as the installation of fencing, preparation of planting beds and building shade structures, with one student leading each volunteer group.  Dirt was moved, posts and student-painted pickets were installed, sitting benches were built and walking paths were put down and our Molson team performed with their usual eagerness and good humour.

The students were appointed junior team leaders and were passionate about getting the job done to their expectations.  Each one was delightful and so proud to take the leadership role in converting a small park into this amazing community garden.  Several members living in the community also stopped by to personally thank us for helping out.  The transition of the park in just three hours was remarkable. 

Thanks Cam, Travis, Martin, Kyle, Shannon, Wayne, Grant, Jeremy and Chris!  It was a fun-filled morning working together.  I just hope your muscles fared better than mine!

From L-R

Ken Andrews, Director Alumni & Community Development; Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, Principal; Jeff Aarssen, Golf Tournament Chair; Mike Butts, Regional Manager, Molson; Keith Sumner, President, Huron University College Foundation. 

Huron University College held its 28th annual golf tournament at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka Ontario.  The College raised a record breaking $50,000 for Huron students and programs.  Molson’s donation went towards the College’s Community Based Learning Program, which helps create opportunities for Huron students to combine academic study with hands on volunteer experience.

It was an absolutely perfect day to participate in the Mayor’s 20-minute Makeover.  We couldn’t have asked for better weather to be outside helping to clean up Toronto!

This morning, about 100 Molson employees in Toronto gathered together and picked up garbage and debris around the office and brewery on Carlingview Drive.  We kicked-off the morning clean-up by leading the employees (with a bag pipe band!) to a flag raising ceremony, where they were addressed by Molson’s President and CEO Kevin Boyce and City Councillor Suzan Hall. After the flag was raised, we needed to make sure everyone was physically ready for the challenge….so we had a couple of Molson’s finest instruct the group with some warm-up exercises and stretches — Thanks ladies!

The clean-up was a complete success.  We had a great time being outside in the sunshine, and we picked up bags and bags worth of garbage.  Even found a broken speed limit sign!

Thank you to Suzan Hall for joining us today and thank you to all who volunteered….Proud to play our part!  Cheers.

Molson sponsors Mary Knowles Community Award, from left to right Carole Berry, Molson, Lynda Hillman-Rapley, recipient, Knowles children Ben and Emily.

I had the opportunity to represent Molson at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s Spring Convention held at the Delta Chelsea Hotel on April 5th, 2008.  I presented the Mary Knowles’ Community Award, this is Molson’s 2nd year, to Lynda Hillman-Rapley, Editor of the Grand Bend Lakeshore Advance  this years recipient of the prestigious award.  I have to admit, I was humbled at the list of charities Lynda has helped throughout the years in her community, Grand Bend Ontario.   Lynda has saved a school and raised money for a library and gym for another school, I was blown away.  Lynda’s favourite charity is the Grand Bend Baseball Project.

Molson employees volunteering time at the Framework Foundation’s Toronto Timeraiser on Saturday, April 5, 2008.  From left: Peter Bombaci, Fiona Cunningham, Tonia Hammer, Sebastien Gagner, Kathleen Krisciunas.

‘Wow’ is the only way I can describe how amazing Saturday night at the 5th annual Timeraiser was.  Held at the beautiful Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District, this year’s Toronto event was sold out days before the event date.

What is a Timeraiser you ask? 

A Timeraiser is a charity art auction where rather than bidding money, you bid the number of hours that you are willing to volunteer for an organization of your choice — An AMAZING way to help young Canadians who want to volunteer, connect with different organizations.

This year’s Toronto event was a great success, raising over 11,000 hours – way above the original goal of 7,500.  Everyone was bidding like crazy!  The bid maximum was 150 hours per piece of artwork, and at least 90% of the art pieces reached the maximum amount.

Molson has been a proud sponsor of Timeraiser since its conception 5 years ago.  Some of Molson’s community partners were part of the event too, including The United Way and Meal Exchange.  I decided to bid hours for Meal Exchange, and I can’t wait to start working with such a great organization.

Interview with Molson employee and Timeraiser volunteer, Peter Bombaci

Watch for upcoming Timeraisers in Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver - www.timeraiser.com for more information.

Proud to play our part…..cheers!