Fund to cheer up kids near Ring of Fire

Northwest Bureau Chronicle Journal

A Toronto-based mining company wants to ensure that 350 children in two remote First Nations near the Ring of Fire mining district have presents for Christmas.
Noront Resources Ltd. in co-operation with the North-South Partnership for Children, is running its third annual Ring of Fire Christmas Fund .
In the past two years the company has raised over $40,000 and has ensured that every child under age 12, both on- and off-reserve in Marten Falls and Webequie has received a wrapped gift.
Funds for the program are raised through donations from Noront, suppliers, investors, employees and friends of the company.
Noront uses 100 per cent of the proceeds towards the gifts, wrapping, and transportation of Santa and his gifts; as well as hosting Christmas festivities in both of the First Nation communities.
The company said in a news release that it believes in the importance of the development of the youth in both communities and has supported a variety of educational and community programs such as; mining matters, youth camps, student bursaries, role model programs, and community contributions.
Last year, Noront also flew in two ex-NHL hockey players into Webequie to run a hockey clinic.
Noront hopes to continue to bring athletic leaders, political leaders and Aboriginal role models into the communities of Marten Falls and Webequie to take part in the Noront Ring of Fire Christmas Fund festivities.
“We believe this will help inform the youth of the challenges each person has faced working towards their goals,” the company said.
To make a donation to the Ring of Fire Christmas Fund, visit the website: www.northsouthpartnership.com , click on the icon, Donate Now through CanadaHelps.org , and type in: Christmas Fund-Marten Falls/Webequie FNs.
Marten Falls has about 300 residents, 80 of which are under age 12, while Webequie has about 600 residents of which 270 are under 12 years-old. The two communities are located 435 and 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, respectively.
Noront Resources Ltd. is proposing to develop an 11-year, 2,960-tonne-per-day, underground nickel-copper-platinum mine in the area, of the James Bay lowlands.
The proposal also includes an underground concentrate processing facility, an all-season access road from Pickle Lake to Webequie Junction, a concentrate pipeline from Webequie Junction to the mine site and an ancillary mine infrastructure.