Category Archives: Funds

Rebecca Kochuk Selected for 2025 Judy Seddon Memorial Award

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We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2025 Judy Seddon Memorial Award, honoring the
enduring legacy of Alberta’s beloved “Rugby Mom.” This year’s award goes to Rebecca Kochuk, a
remarkable individual whose dedication to sport, education, and community embodies Judy’s
commitment to the sport of rugby and community service.

A passionate athlete and mentor, this year’s honoree began her rugby journey in grade 8—a
transformative experience that sparked a lifelong commitment to the game. Today, she channels that
passion into coaching the girls’ team at Bert Church High School in Airdrie, instilling confidence and self-
worth in young athletes and continuing Judy’s tradition of nurturing future generations.

As a player, she competes with distinction for the Canucks RFC, the University of Calgary Dinos, and the
Senior Women’s Maverick/Wolf Pack. Her leadership on and off the field reflects the values Judy
championed throughout her 35+ years of contributions to rugby in Alberta.

Academically, Rebecca maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA at the University of Calgary, where she is accelerating her
Bachelor’s degree with year-round coursework. She aspires to become a Speech-Language Pathologist,
helping children build confidence in communication—an extension of the empowerment she fosters
through rugby.

The Judy Seddon Memorial Award will support her continued academic and athletic pursuits, enabling
her to further Judy’s legacy through community building for women’s rugby in Alberta.

Please join us in celebrating this outstanding recipient and the lasting impact of Judy Seddon’s legacy.

Building at Maple Grove Rugby Park

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The MGRP Capital Fund was established by Rugby Manitoba in May, 2025 as a vehicle to raise funds for improvements to the Maple Grove Rugby Park.

Maple Grove Rugby Park was established in 1985 as the home of the majority of the Winnipeg‐based rugby clubs with 5 International Sized Rugby pitches, and has evolved into a multi‐sport facility which has hosted numerous school, club, provincial, national and international events for rugby, flag football, lacrosse, ultimate and volleyball.  The Maple Grove Rugby Park Founders Committee was the group responsible for the invention, creation, development and construction of Maple Grove Rugby Park, the premier rugby facility in Western Canada.

In August, 1984 the corporation Maple Grove Rugby Park Inc. was created. An internal structure was hammered out, land identified and approved, plans for construction discussed and approved, and fund-raising plans discussed and implemented. The committee raised approximately $300,000 and implemented the first sport-developed and managed facility in Winnipeg, all without government funding.

The MGRP Capital Fund has now been set up to ensure funds can be raised to support enhancements and/or on-going operational support for Maple Grove Rugby Park. This could include major capital projects such as an additional field, new turf, or renovations to the clubhouse, or smaller acquisitions of equipment (turf maintenance or training equipment, lighting, sound systems, etc., or ongoing maintenance and repair of the park, fields and clubhouse. Under the auspices of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, a charitable foundation, all donations to this Fund are eligible for a tax receipt.

TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE MGRP CAPITAL FUND, GO HERE:

Coming Home to Windsor Park with CWRFC Capital Fund

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The Castaway Wanderers have established a new fund with the Canadian Rugby Foundation to help raise money for a new clubhouse adjacent to their current playing field at Windsor Park in the Oak Bay area of Victoria, BC. The building on the right photo is the Oak Bay Community Centre used as the club’s locker and meeting rooms

Named the CWRFC Coming Home Capital Fund, this signals a move of the existing clubhouse from downtown Victoria to Windsor Park (thus the “Coming Home”) and will serve as a vehicle for donors to the project (purchase of property, relocation of a house to accommodate the clubhouse, and renovations to the house) to make a contribution and simultaneously receiving a charitable tax receipt through the Foundation.

The property is across from the tennis courts at Windsor Park as shown here. The house shown below is the one being considered moving on to the property we will purchase. It has been photoshopped onto the property to give a sense of how our new home will fit.

IMAGINE THIS:

  • The history of your club and its players creating your club place adjacent to your
    playing field
  • Celebrating a victory with YOUR team in YOUR clubhouse whether 14 or 35 years old
  • Gathering parents and their CWRFC children for a social evening
  • CW teams hosting supporters, visitors and guests in THEIR clubhouse right after the game
  • Deepening the unique social side of rugby into our CWRFC culture for families, players, alumni and supporters
  • Imagine, COMING HOME to where it all began in 1912!

TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AND MAKE A DONATION TO THE CWRFC COMING HOME CAPITAL FUND, GO HERE:

YOU CAN HELP!
For further information or an offer toward the plan, please contact Chris Spicer at 250-888-8859 or
cspiceradvancement@shaw.ca

SABRFC Alumni Endowment Fund Established

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We are pleased to announce that the SABRFC Alumni Endowment Fund was established on July 21,  2025.

STE. ANNE DE BELLEVUE RFC

 

What is now the Ste. Anne de Bellevue Rugby Football Club originated as the Macdonald College rugby team in 1964. Last year (2024) marked the 60th anniversary of the original founding date.

In 1981 the club officially became the Club de Rugby de Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. The hard work and dedication shown by every player, coach, and volunteer over the last four and a half decades have produced the biggest and most successful rugby club in Quebec, and one with a solid international reputation.

  

 

SABRFC ALUMNI ENDOWMENT FUND

The SABRFC (Sainte Anne de Bellevue Rugby Football Club) Alumni Endowment Fund is intended to support the operations of the club through disbursements from the fund’s donations, endowment returns, and other contributions. These are to continue the objects of the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Rugby Football Club (Fund Sponsor) and are consistent with the broad objects and purposes of the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Rugby Football Club, Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation to develop and grow rugby across Canada while meeting all CRA requirements.

As the Fund’s name indicates, the fund was set up by a group of dedicated club alumni, past and current men’s and women’s rugby members of the club who are interested in the long-term viability and financial stability of the club. This is to be established through the endowment fund, where the assets donated to the fund are invested in perpetuity with the returns disbursed annually.

The following are examples of the kinds of projects or uses for which a grant may be approved.

OPERATING EXPENSES including any of the following:

  • Facilities .
  • Equipment purchase
  • Training equipment
  • Turf installation and landscaping
  • Labour expense
  • Member services
  • Administration
  • Competitions
  • Player assistance and awards
  • Miscellaneous

TO SUPPORT THE CLUB AND DONATE TO THE SABRFC ALUMNI ENDOWMENT FUND, GO HERE:

Stampede Sevens Award Fund the Newest Fund Out of Alberta

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Late April saw the establishment of a new Awards Fund by the Stampede 7’s Alberta Rugby Society.

The Stampede 7’s Award is dedicated to supporting the next generation of rugby athletes as they transition into post-secondary education. This award recognizes outstanding high school rugby players who have demonstrated high performance on the field and dedication to the rugby community.

The Award is intended to provide funding from its endowment for annual awards that further the broad objectives and purposes of the Stampede 7’s Alberta Rugby Society, Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation to develop and grow rugby across Canada, and that meet CRA requirements. The Stampede 7’s Award is named for the annual 7’s tournament held in Calgary during Stampede.

Award Criteria:
1. Must be a Grade 12 student graduating in the year in which they are applying for the award
2. Must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution with a program starting before February of the following year
3. Must be actively involved in the rugby community (player, coaching, refereeing, volunteering, or other contributions)
4. Participation, leadership, sportsmanship, and impact on the rugby community will be evaluated for each applicant

Application Process:
1. Completed application form
2. Personal statement (500-750 words) detailing:
a. Your rugby journey and achievements
b. Your involvement in the rugby community
c. How rugby has shaped your character and future goals
d. How this award will support your academic and athletic aspirations
3. Proof of post-secondary enrollment
4. Please include 2 references (1 must be rugby related; i.e.: coach, VP, alumni…), with contact information.

Other Information:
• 2 Awards are available (ideally one woman and one man chosen)
• The Stampede 7’s Rugby Board will review applications based on complete applications.
• Application deadline is the first Monday of September
• Awards selected the last Friday of September

TO SUPPORT AND MAKE A DONATION TO THE NEW FUND, GO HERE: 

Toronto Saracens Start New Alumni Endowment Fund

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To complement their Fletcher’s Fields Legacy Fund, the Toronto Saracens have now established a new Toronto Saracens Alumni Fund with the Canadian Rugby Foundation.

The Toronto Saracens Legacy Fund was established in April 2025, and was driven by a group of Saracen alumni. The Saracens have a long proud history since their founding in the early 1950’s. With 70+ years of playing rugby, there are now over one thousand Saracen Alumni spread around the world.

Many Saracens Alumni continue to stay involved with the Club in Board positions and as spectators. The cheering of Alumni on the sidelines and the volunteer Alumni working behind the scenes keep the Saracens strong as a Club.

The Toronto Saracens Alumni Fund is intended to provide funding from its endowment, and from capital withdrawals that continue the objects of the Toronto Saracens Rugby Football Club. These include:

  1. To encourage and further the game of rugby in Ontario and Canada;
  2. To actively support rugby players in the Province of Ontario by furnishing equipment, kit, and facilities for the game of rugby;
  3. To promote all forms of rugby and to arrange matches and rugby competitions and to offer or grant and contribute towards prizes, awards, scholarships and honorariums related to playing rugby in the province of Ontario.

The following are examples of the kinds of projects or uses for which a grant may be approved.

1. CLUB OPERATING EXPENSES including any of the following:

  • Facilities
  • Labour expense
  • Member services
  • Administration
  • Competitions

 2. JUNIOR PROGRAM EXPENSES. These may include:

  • Camp fees for junior members to attend Ontario or National camps and competitions
  • Recruitment of junior members
  • Junior team coaches’ compensation
  • Junior team member services including kit and equipment
  • Other Junior expenses

To support the Toronto Saracens and donate to the Alumni Fund, please go HERE:

Danyka LaBelle Latest Judy Seddon Memorial Award Winner

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We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Judy Seddon Memorial Award. This scholarship is awarded annually to a young woman who is involved in rugby in Alberta as an athlete, referee, coach or volunteer, selected on the basis of community service and academics, who is or will be enrolled in a post-secondary institution.

Danyka LaBelle is a student at the University of Calgary in her second year of a Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Fine Arts in French, with a minor in Native Studies. She is a Metis woman from Cree and Sioux descent who is actively involved in her community through teaching, learning, volunteering, and as a Pow Wow dancer. She comes from a family of athletes who continue to give back through sport. She has competed at the Indigenous Games, both Provincially and North American, and is an athlete in two Varsity sports (rugby and wrestling).

We would like to thank all the applicants and their references for taking the time to apply, and encourage anyone who wishes to apply (or re-apply) to mark May 1st in their calendar when applications for the 2025 award open.

To make a donation to support the Judy Seddon Memorial Award Fund, go HERE. 

WESTERN WOMEN’S RUGBY ALUMNI START A NEW FUND

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WESTERN WOMEN’S RUGBY ALUMNI START A NEW FUND

Fresh off an appearance in the 2024 OUA Women’s Rugby semi-final, the Western University Women’s Rugby team’s alumni and supporters have established a new fund with the Canadian Rugby Foundation.

The Western Women’s Rugby Alumni Fund is intended to provide funding to further the objectives of the Western University Women’s Rugby team and is consistent with the broad objects and purposes of Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation, to develop and grow rugby across Canada, while meeting all CRA requirements.

The Fund has been launched as an initiative of the current (2024) Women’s Rugby coaches and alumni/alumnae to provide a vehicle for soliciting tax receipt-eligible donations to financially support the Women’s Rugby program – including the Varsity team and development activities –  all to enable the team to regain its competitiveness in the OUA and at U SPORTS Rugby Nationals in future.

The fund will address critical needs including but not limited to recruiting support, coach remuneration, player awards and financial support, and player and coach development, from earnings on its endowment, new donations, and the Foundation’s 25% matching contribution program which can add up to $20,000 in additional assets to the fund.

TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE WESTERN WOMEN’S RUGBY ALUMNI FUND, GO HERE: 

 

 

Hornby Island’s Lone Oak Legends Fund Launches

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December 9th saw the launch of the Lone Oak Legends Fund on Horny Island, BC. The initiative of Mike Holmes who was also the architect of the LOne Oak Legends Rugby Club based on Horny Island, the fund was established to help provide youth rugby experiences and support the growth of junior rugby on Hornby Island by funding new rugby programs and activities from its endowment, and is consistent with the broad objectives and purposes of the Lone Oak Legends Rugby Club, Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation, to develop and grow rugby across Canada while meeting all CRA requirements.

The Lone Oak Legends Club was dreamt up by Mike & Harry Holmes, was brought to life by Clay Panga and Wildy Holmes as the ultimate COVID-19 rugby project. The goal was to build a small rugby field and a timber frame clubhouse on beautiful Hornby Island. The field will be used to promote rugby in partnership with BC Grassroots Rugby, and to offer rugby opportunities to young children of all backgrounds. Numerous well-known figures in BC and the Islands rugby community put in their sweat equity to make the new field and clubhouse a reality.

THE SITE

   

RAISING THE UPRIGHTS

   

VOLUNTEERS ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR

   

A full description of the Lone Oak Legends Club and the development of its field and clubhouse were chronicled in the CastawayWanderers blog

TO DONATE TO THE LONE OAK LEGENDS FUND, AND SUPPORT THE CLUB’S EFFORTS TO BRING YOUTH RUGBY TO HORNBY ISLAND GO HERE: 

Peterborough Rugby Starts New Fund

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We are pleased to announce that the Peterborough Rugby Club has established a new CRF fund as of November 30, 2024. The club’s roots date back to the turn of the century…the 19th century that is.  In 1899, Ireland toured Canada and played a team from Peterborough. Interestingly, the game was played at Nicholl’s Oval, the same location that is the home of Peterborough Rugby today.

  

In 1956 a team, the Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club was formed. The team began play in 1957, primarily against teams in Toronto. The focus for the club was to gradually expand from its immigrant roots to develop a base of Canadian players and to get rugby into local schools. The inception of Trent University in the 1960’s with its rugby program also helped the club’s development. In 1970, the club formally adopted its current team name, the Peterborough Pagans.

In 1980, a separate old timers’ club – the Krocks – was established for the noncompetitive over-35 crowd. In 1990, the Pagans and the Krocks joined together to form an umbrella organization, the Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club. The joint organization provided a more efficient organization to grow and manage rugby in the community.

In the late 1980’s the club began to expand – first a men’s 2nd team, then a junior boys team, then a women’s team, then complete programs for junior girls and junior boys. Today, the club has programs for female and male from under 6, through every age group up to men and women, with 3 men’s and 2 women’s teams. The club is nearly divided equally between
female and male, with a brand new co-ed Mixed Ability team in 2023. It is among the largest clubs in Ontario.

The playing quality of the club has also grown. Both of our senior teams play in the top leagues in Ontario. The club has had numerous players represent the province. As well, four club players have gone on to play for Canada – Barbara Mervin, Brian McCarthy, Hannah Darling and Kal Sager.

In 2010, the City of Peterborough offered the club an opportunity to develop what they had long wanted – their own clubhouse. This was the Lawn Bowling Clubhouse, built in 1930, which would have to be moved to Nicholls’ Oval. The club took ownership of the building in 2011.

In spring 2011 the Clubhouse was moved to Nicholls’ in 3 parts. Construction started in 2011 to re-connect the parts and build a large basement with six change rooms and showers. The construction was complicated, and costs went over budget, but construction was completed in 2013. In 2023, after a difficult financial period, Peterborough Rugby had fully paid all Clubhouse loans.

  

PETERBOROUGH RUGBY ENDOWMENT FUND

The Peterborough Rugby Endowment Fund was established in November 2024 with the Canadian Rugby Foundation. The Fund is intended to provide funding from its endowment and donations that continue the objects of the Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club Inc. (Fund Sponsor) and are consistent with the broad objects and purposes of the Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club Inc., Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation to develop and grow rugby across Canada while meeting all CRA requirements.

To support the Peterborough Rugby Club and to donate to the Peterborough Rugby Endowment Fund, go here.