In the leadup to the Rugby World Cup in Auckland and Whangārei, New Zealand this fall, from October 8 to November 12, the Foundation’s Monty Heald Fund has made a significant grant to Rugby Canada in support of the Senior Women’s 15’s team. Details follow in the Rugby Canada media release: July 2022_CRF MHF_en
NEIL DAVIDSONCanadian rugby has received a historic boost in the form of an $11.65-million donation.
The money, which is going to the non-profit Canadian Rugby Foundation, comes from the $21.5-million sale of the eight-hectare Fletcher’s Fields rugby facility in Markham, Ont.
Established in 1966, Fletcher’s Fields features six rugby fields and has hosted Canada test matches against Argentina, England, Ireland, Japan, the U.S. and Wales, as well as numerous Ontario championships. It is named after the late Denis Fletcher, a rugby enthusiast who helped grow the game in Ontario.
Fletcher’s Fields Limited, which owned the facility, is comprised of six equal shareholders: Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club, Markham Irish Canadian Rugby Club, Rugby Ontario, Nomads Rugby Football Club of Toronto, Toronto Saracens Rugby Football Club and Toronto Scottish Rugby Football Club.
The $11.65-million donation will translate into six endowment funds, representing each of those shareholders. The remainder of the sale proceeds is being held back as the clubs determine their future venue and capital plans.
The Foundation will administer the endowment funds, retaining some of the proceeds with the bulk of that revenue going back to the original shareholders.
Foundation chair Mike Holmes called it a “historic donation.”
“It will enable us to invest significantly more funds in development of grassroots rugby in Canada,” Holmes said in an interview.
“That’s the mission of the foundation – to grow our capital so that we have more and more income arising from that capital,” he added. “And in time we have more and more money to spend on growth of grassroots rugby in Canada.”
Established in 2003, the Foundation offers scholarships and manages several funds, including the Captain’s Fund, which helps the under-20 and other national age-group programs and the Monty Heald National Women’s Fund, which assists women’s national team programs.
The Foundation’s assets now exceed $18-million. Rugby Canada’s annual revenue totalled $9.2-million in pandemic-affected 2020 and $14.9-million in 2019.
Fletcher’s Fields will continue hosting rugby and other sport competitions until October, 2024, with shareholder clubs hoping to have new localized facilities ready for the 2025 season.
In recent years, the Fletcher’s board opted for a long-term review with the facility’s increasing need for capital improvements and out of a desire for greater access to rugby across the city. That led to the board accepting a purchase offer.
In addition to the six new endowment funds, the Foundation has contributed $120,000 and committed to an annual contribution towards a new Fletcher’s Patrons Fund that honours those who helped finance major renovations and build grandstands at the property. The returns from the fund will go toward initiatives to help develop rugby in Ontario.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-sale-of-fletchers-fields-provides-historic-boost-to-canadian-rugby/
Fletcher’s Fields Limited (FFL) is a share capital corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). FFL is a not-for-profit organization within the meaning of paragraph 149(1)(l) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). On its initial incorporation as a letters patent corporation under the Corporations Act (Ontario) in 1970, the objects of FFL were stated in part as follows:
a) To establish, maintain and operate athletic facilities and to promote an interest in athletic games, recreation and sports;
b) To construct and operate grandstands, arenas, playing field, booths, refreshment rooms, food services and other buildings and conveniences whether of a permanent or temporary nature;
c) To arrange or hold matches and competitions of every nature and to offer or grant and contribute towards prizes, awards and distinctions;
d) To buy, sell and deal in all kinds of equipment, apparatus and provisions required by or conveniences for the persons frequenting the Company’s facilities; and
e) To use such facilities and to permit the same or any part thereof to be sued on such terms as the company shall think fit for any purposes, public or private, and in particular for public and other gatherings and meetings, exhibitions, picnics, tournaments and other performances.
On November 23, 2021, the Canadian Rugby Foundation (the Foundation) was pleased to accept a historic donation in the amount of $11.65 million from Fletcher’s Field Limited (FFL), this following the sale of its Fletcher’s Fields rugby facility in Markham Ontario to the City of Markham. The Foundation and FFL have entered into a donation agreement (the “FFL Master Agreement”) effective June 1st, 2021. In addition, the Foundation established from its own Unrestricted Fund a restricted fund to be named the “Fletcher’s Patrons Fund” in the amount of $120,000.
The Fletcher’s Patrons Fund is named for the generous supporters or “Patrons” who in 1995 enabled Fletcher’s Fields to undertake major renovations to the clubhouse and install an electronic scoreboard and a grandstand to accommodate three thousand spectators. Funds for the improvements came by way of an Ontario grant and a major fundraising drive in the rugby community. The fundraising drive involved donors contributing one thousand dollars to Fletcher’s in return for being named a patron and receiving free entry to games. Almost $150,000 was raised from members of the FFL shareholder clubs and other Ontario rugby clubs.
The Fletcher’s Patrons Fund is intended to provide funding from its endowment, and from capital disbursements that continue the objects of FFL. These include:
(a) To encourage and further the game of rugby in Ontario and Canada in accordance with the laws of World Rugby (“WR”);
(b) To actively support rugby players and participants in the Province of Ontario by furnishing equipment, kit, and facilities for the game of rugby; and
(c) To promote all forms of rugby recognized by WR 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.
USE THE FORM BELOW TO DONATE TO THE FLETCHER’S PATRONS FUND:
The latest of the Foundation’s Awards Endowment Funds has just gone live with the creation of the Steven Batie Memorial Fund.
The Fund was created by Steven’s family in October 2021 to honour his 25-year legacy in Canadian rugby. He was a leader both on and off the pitch at the club, provincial and national U21 level and his legendary tenacity during the game was matched only by his kindness, warmth, and welcoming nature off the field.
Steven’s rugby life began with the Ladysmith Secondary School Blues Rugby Program, followed by the Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club. After high school, Steven became a beloved member of the UVic Vikes Rugby Program for six years, meeting and playing alongside lifelong friends under the mentorship of Doug Tate.
Steve focused his education on finance following his undergrad by completing the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) Financial Management program. He began his career in finance in the banking industry, earned his CFP designation, and ultimately transitioned away from the traditional financial institutions to become a financial planner, investment advisor, and owner of Rothdale Pacific Wealth Management in Vancouver.
After UVic Steve went on to become a long-standing member of the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. For 15 years, he played at every level with the club while helping coach and mentor new players. He also volunteered his time and expertise to provide additional fitness training to support players trying out for representative teams. Burnaby Lake was also where he met his wife Jean and his family is grateful to the club for embracing the entire Batie family.
Steven was also a valued member of a number of representative teams, including the Mid Island Tsunami, the Canadian U21 Men’s World Cup Team, and BC at all levels, including starting in BC Bears’ famous 2014 victory over the Uruguayan Men’s National Team.
Support of this fund will help grow the game of rugby and support the two clubs – University of Victoria Vikes Men’s Rugby program and the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club – that brought Steven so much joy and happiness during his life, in addition to keeping his spirit alive for his family.
In addition to supporting this fund, Steven’s family asks that you also honour his life and legacy by being kind – to yourself, your teammates, your friends and even strangers – for everyone you meet may be fighting a battle you know nothing about. In closing, the family has asked that we share the words Steven’s dad would say to him before every single game (and most practices) over his 25 years playing rugby:
Play Hard.
Play Safe.
And Have Fun.
The Steven Batie Memorial Fund will be officially unveiled at Steve’s Celebration of Life on November 14, 2021.
It’s no secret that the past year and a half have been hard on grassroots rugby across Canada. With COVID-19 protocols restricting play and most forms of activity that would normally engage club members, incoming revenue has been drastically reduced if not eliminated, and membership has taken a hit with the risk that some younger players might not return at all.
The Canadian Rugby Foundation has recognized these hardships, and are making available some funding to help clubs across Canada recover from the recent months. The Foundation’s Board approved new Grassroots Rugby COVID-relief grants to assist clubs who have been hard hit this year by the effects of COVID-19. A total of $40,000 is being made available through the provincial and territorial rugby unions to assist their most affected clubs.
Each provincial union has been invited to apply for assistance to a maximum of $5,000 per union, with funding available starting January 2022 on the condition that the CRF grant is matched by the union/clubs.
The deadline for applications is November 15, 2021 at 5:00pm EST.
The email that was sent and the application form can be seen below. If your club could use this type of support, contact your provincial union for more information.
Grassroots Assistance email to PRUs 20211013
Application for Grassroots Assistance
UPDATE: The following 5 Provincial Rugby Unions applied for and were subsequently approved for $5,000 grants payable in March 2022.
The Monty Heald Fund is in support of Rugby Canada’s Senior Women’s XV program.
With the help of generous donors like you, the Fund has been a great success. Together we make it feasible for the players to concentrate on their training and preparations without having to worry about also paying to play.
Our Senior Women’s National program had an amazing 2022 and the team’s cohesiveness and desire were on full display during the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. While disappointed in a fourth-place finish, they were the talk of the tournament for their grit and tenacity throughout. The team had great success in part due the funding supplied by the Monty Heald Fund which enabled added training days and supported team soft centralization. (Approximately $100,000.) Rugby Canada did also supply more funding this year than ever before, but with only so much capacity to draw from, our MONTY HEALD FUND must continue to raise money to ensure a robust program for our women.
Rest assured that 100% of your donation goes directly to support the Senior Women’s XVs team and is dispersed through the Canadian Rugby Foundation.
Our team does not want to lose the momentum we have coming off the World Cup and numerous fixtures and camps are already being set for 2023. Up to 10 tests are forecasted at this time and plans include up to 4 matches on home soil. We look forward to the opportunity to compete in the PAC4 tournament again and the exciting launch of the Global WXV Competition!
Thank you in advance for your support!
Recent Results
2022 Pac 4 tournament
June 5 Canada 36 USA 5
June 11 Canada 0 New Zealand 28
June 17 Canada 22 Australia 10
July 24 Canada 34 Italy 24
Aug 27 Canada 31 Wales 3
Sept 24 Canada 24 Fiji 7
2021/2022 World Cup
Oct 9 Canada 41 Japan 5
Oct 16 Canada 22 Italy 12
Oct 23 Canada 29 USA 14
Oct 30 Canada 32 USA 11
Nov 5 Canada 19 England 26
Nov 11 Canada 0 France 36
2023 Results
March 25 Canada 66 South Africa 7
April 1 Canada 50 USA 17
July 8 Canada 21 New Zealand 52
July 14 Canada 45 Australia 7
September 23 Canada 24 England 50
September 30 Canada 12 England 29
October 20 Canada 42 Wales 22
October 26 Canada 12 England 45
November 3 Canada 29 France 20
Canadian Press Monty Heald Obituary
More about the Monty Heald National Women’s Fund objectives and administration
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE MONTY HEALD SENIOR WOMEN’S FUND:
Thunder Rugby is an Indigenous-led organization featuring former national team players Bobby Ross (Songhees Nation) and Phil Mack (Toquaht Nation) as leading figures. Director of Thunder Rugby is John Lyall, a rugby player for over 25 years, who is of Kwakwaka’wakw descent. They’re focused on creating opportunities through rugby for Indigenous youth.Continue reading
It is my pleasure to report to you on the inaugural grants awarded by the Purdey Group Fund, announced on May 1, 2021 to the teams awarded a grant or who were unsuccessful in their submission – 19 teams in all.
Continue reading
The Canadian U20 team have defeated the USA U20 team in a two game series, with Canada winning both matches. That’s not an easy task, in 2016 the USA won the series, in 2017 the teams split the games with Canada advancing on aggregate, the same happened in 2018. 2019 is the first time in a while that Canada have won both matches and went through on a comfortable aggregate of 67 to 38.
MISSION: To eliminate the “PAY TO PLAY” experience presently felt by participants in the National Senior Women’s XV Rugby Team, leave a legacy fund for future teams where possible, and provide funding for the National Age Group Women’s Rugby Teams.
