Overview
Kin Canada was founded on February 20, 1920 by Hal A. Rogers. What was initially thought to be a good way for men to find camaraderie after World War I, Hal and the other members decided they should also give back to their community.
Since this meeting, Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin Clubs across Canada have contributed over $1 billion to Canadian communities. Today, there are around 500 clubs and 6500 members from coast-to-coast.
Projects and Accomplishments
Cystic Fibrosis Canada Partnership: Our dedication to find a control or a cure for cystic fibrosis began in 1964. Total money raised by our clubs for cystic fibrosis research and care programs surpassed $40 million in 2012.
Kin Canada Bursaries: Hal Rogers was passionate about ensuring that future generations of Canadians come to be educated and have access to education. After his death in 1994, the Hal Rogers Endowment Fund (HREF) was created, with the mandate to promote, encourage and sponsor educational programs and activities.
Kin Canada Bursaries has provided over $800,000 in bursaries since 1995.
Disaster Relief: Our Clubs have raised money and donated items in response to a number of disasters both at the national and international level. Some of these projects were in response to the tsunami in Southeast Asia, earthquake in Haiti, drought in western Canada (the Hay West Project that helped farmers suffering from the drought) and fire at Slave Lake.
Organ Donor Awareness: Promoting organ donor awareness is a natural fit with Kin because of our partnership with Cystic Fibrosis Canada; people with CF ultimately require a double lung transplant to live. Many of our members have been directly impacted by the extreme need of more organ and tissue donors in Canada and proudly take it upon themselves to spread the word in their community.
TeleMiracle: Kinsmen, Kinettes and volunteers in Saskatchewan have raised money for people in their communities through the annual TeleMiracle event since 1977. In 2013, they raised over $5.5 million to assist Saskatchewan people who require special-needs equipment and provide access to medical assistance.
The Kinsmen Foundation of BC & Yukon: The Kinsmen Foundation of BC & Yukon was founded in 1952 by the Kinsmen Club of Vancouver to fight and find a cure for polio. When a cure was found, the Foundation changed its focus to assist those who were stricken with this terrible disease. In later years, its purpose expanded to include serving the needs of severely physically disabled adults throughout British Columbia and the Yukon.
Portraits of Honour Tour: In 2011, Kin Canada Life Member Dave Sopha travelled across Canada showcasing the 10′ x 50′ hand-painted mural depicting the 157 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew who lost their lives serving in Afghanistan. It took Dave over 6,500 hours to paint. The tour raised money for the Military Families Fund and other charities that support military personnel and their families.
BBQ Canada: In 2003, in support of the ailing beef industry in Canada, Kin clubs and groups across the country hosted free barbecues to show the world that Canadian beef is safe and that they support the Canadian beef industry. This event made the Guinness Book of World Records for serving a beef product to more than 280,000 individuals.
ParticipACTION: In 1971, Sun Life Assurance Company and the Kinsmen Clubs of Canada worked with ParticipACTION (previously known as Sport Participation Canada) to build activity trails called “ParticiParks” (fitness-oriented parks) in over 100 communities across Canada.
Milk for Britain, World War II: Responding to a radio appeal for milk for British children, founder Hal Rogers rallied Kin members across Canada to raise funds for the purchase of powdered milk. The goal for the first year was to raise enough money to purchase one million quarts but within nine months, Kinsmen and Kinettes supplied more than three million quarts. By the end of the Milk for Britain campaign, the Kin family raised close to $3 million and sent 50 million quarts of milk to Britain and Founder Hal was awarded the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).
For more information, please visit kincanada.ca and district7kin.ca.