By: Justin Boone
It’s football season for the kids of Ouje-Bougoumou and the game just started.
As the True North Wellness Football camp wrapped up, the Ticats players, coaches, and staff said their goodbyes to the students at Waapihtiiwewan School in Northern Quebec.
“You’re here, you’re doing philanthropic work, but you build a relationship with the kids over the four days and it’s certainly hard to leave,” said Marcel Bellfeuille.
“The kids see people like us come and go, but with us coming back a second year and a third year it reinforces what we said and it sticks in their minds,” added Gord Hudson, the Director of Youth Healing Services.
At the start of the camp, football was a foreign subject to many of the communities’ children, but on the final day without any prompting from the coaches, the kids of Ouje were engaged in a two hand touch game.
“This has been above and beyond expectations,” explained Hudson. “I’ve spoken to some community members, and to chief and the council and they’ve already started a budget to have us back next year.”
For J.P. Bekasiak, Geoff Tisdale, and Nick Kordic, the trip represented a unique opportunity to experience a different culture, while expanding the game of football and helping the kids to realize what they can accomplish when they focus on a goal.
“Any time any individual can come a thousand kilometres away from where they’re from and come and help out kids they don’t even know, means they’re special people. And a big thanks to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats organization, because having people like that in your organization means you’re going in the right direction. It means it’s an organization that you should be proud of.”
Developing a love of the game is only a fortunate byproduct of the week.
“During this camp, you were able to reach into their hearts,” said Kenny Miascum, the communities Director of Operations. “There was so much fun, there was so much joy with the young people that were at the camp and the parents really enjoyed themselves as well. It’s not about the sport, it’s about the smiles, and giving them something to look forward to as they open up their dreams.”
