Invermere is 1 of 16 communities across Canada to win the Jays Care Foundation Field of Dreams.
The Jays Care Foundation, the charitable extension of the Toronto Blue Jays, will make infrastructure investments of more than $1.2 million in 2022 to benefit Canadian children and youth through its Field Of Dreams program.
16 organizations across 7 provinces and 1 territory will receive funding to build, enhance, and refurbish baseball diamonds where children and youth will develop important life skills and learn from positive role models. Jays Care has invested more than $15 million in 145 safe spaces across all 10 provinces and two territories in the last 10 years.
The following communities and organizations have been selected as Jays Care’s 2022 Field Of Dreams grant recipients:
Calgary, Alberta – Centennial Little League
Whitecourt, Alberta – Whitecourt Minor Baseball
Invermere, British Columbia – Columbia Valley Little League
Kamloops, British Columbia – Kamloops Minor Ball
Smithers, British Columbia – Witset First Nation
La Salle, Manitoba — Caisse Community Centre
Lundar, Manitoba – Lundar Minor Ball
Amherst, Nova Scotia – Amherst Little League
Dominion, Nova Scotia – Hawks Dream Field Project
Arctic Bay, Nunavut – Hamlet of Arctic Bay
Whale Cove, Nunavut – Hamlet of Whale Cove
Christian Island, Ontario – Beausoleil First Nation
Etobicoke, Ontario – Martingrove Baseball
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec – Baseball Quebec
Laird, Saskatchewan – Laird Minor Softball
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – Prince Albert Minor Ball
“Jays Care is thrilled to invest in building and refurbishing community baseball diamonds for sixteen communities across the country. We believe that now, more than ever, it is vital for kids to have spaces where they can safely play, connect and learn.” said Robert Witchel, Executive Director, Jays Care Foundation. “With projects spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Ocean, this year truly exemplifies the vast geographic scope of our Blue Jays Community. We are excited to continue a legacy of investing in infrastructure to support Canadian children and youth and look forward to celebrating with communities in the months ahead.”
Jays Care Foundation is grateful for the support of its largest funding partner, Rogers Communications, whose annual donation supports the growth of youth programs like Challenger Baseball, Rookie League and Girls At Bat – with many kids in these programs playing on Fields Of Dreams diamonds.
The funds will go towards upgrades at the Rotary Ball Diamond in Invermere.