Watch as Sue Heddle, founder and director of Hockey Cares, shares her heart!
True North Aid is pleased to partner with The Bird's Nest to advance our Self-Determination efforts
Meet Dwight Ballantyne, a graduate of The Bird's Nest, a non-profit based in Maple Ridge, BC providing Indigenous youth and young adults with safe accommodations and meals and all the necessary support to prepare them for post-secondary education. Through the one-year program, they learn basic life skills, attend a college preparation program and build important relationships providing them the skills and tools needed for acceptance and success into a trade school or college. Recently, The Bird's Nest has added a hockey component to its program. Dwight came to BC from a remote northern Saskatchewan reserve already as an excellent defence man. When he arrived he realized that in order to play here he needed to be faster and stronger. During his spare time he spent hours doing drills at a local arena, going to the gym for hours every day of the one year program. He physically transformed himself and drastically improved his already excellent hockey skills. He now plays for a competitive recreational team and is scouted for large native hockey tournaments throughout Canada. Dwight is an example of what can happen if someone is given an opportunity to pursue his/her dreams. He is very excited to work with the Hockey program and provide emotional support and encouragement to his peers who are coming from an environment with very limited opportunity. READ MORE and consider supporting our SELF-DETERMINATION FUND to help us support initiatives like The Bird's Nest!
