TEN MILE POINT—A large group of motorcycle riders taking part in the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation Provincial Ride stopped by Ten Mile Point on their cross-province ride after getting off the Chi-Cheemaun ferry in South Baymouth.
“We are almost 30 riders raising money for food-based/shelter-based charities in Sudbury Manitoulin, all over the province, really,” said Luke Bock of Sudbury’s Royal LePage North Heritage Realty, whose group included Manitoulin’s own Leanne Lewis and the Lewis Team.
“We ride different areas every year,” said co-leader Brad Johnstone of the Niagara Region’s Johnstone Team. “We support local charities and give back.
The group were headed to Sudbury, where after a brief Giant Nickel photo op, Royal LePage North Heritage Realty was hosting a dinner at the Caruso Club.
“It’s awesome that we were a part of this,” said Ms. Lewis. “It is a good cause, everybody from different organizations—it doesn’t matter if you are Royal LePage, ReMax, Century 21, we are all in this together.”
The need is dire, notes the foundation. Despite recent increases to social assistance program rates, in real terms, those rates have never been lower. In Ontario, 45 percent of tenant households spend 30 percent or more of their total income on shelter—the highest rate in Canada. And is expected to get worse, by this year, about 160,000 Ontario households will spend greater than 50 percent of their income on rent. Food bank use in Ontario has increased 42 percent over the past three years alone—one-third of these visitors were using food banks for the first time.
Further, there is not enough deeply affordable community housing. Our nation, including Ontario, lags significantly behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to social housing supply—some 200,000 Ontarians are waiting years for access to social housing. At least 99,000 new units would be required to meet this need and the build remains far below that number.
Ms. Lewis herself has embarked on a number of overseas charity trips in recent years. She is in the top 20 fundraisers for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s Cambodia Challenge this year.
“In October I’ll be heading to the other side of the globe to participate in the Cambodia Challenge for Shelter,” she notes. “For five days, I’ll be trekking alongside like-minded colleagues from coast-to-coast in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.”
“While my trek towards the picturesque temples of Angkor Wat will be immensely rewarding, it will not be easy,” she admits. “Days will be long, hot and humid and jet lag will be intense. I will be going without the comforts of home, sleeping in a small tent, using rustic bathroom facilities and unplugging completely from cell service and technology. To be eligible to take part, I will pay my own trek and travel expenses and must raise at least $10,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Of the funds I raise, 80 percent will be directed to my local women’s shelter (Manitoulin Family Resources’ Haven House) and 20 precent will fund national domestic violence prevention programs.”
Ms. Lewis is under no illusions on the trip. “I know the adventure ahead will test me both physically and emotionally,” she continues, “but I’ve raised my hand because I believe that a house is only a home when the people who live there feel safe. As I face this challenge, I will draw strength knowing that every dollar I raise and every kilometer I walk will help make it easier for women and children to find the safety, hope and healing they deserve.”
Islanders can assist in Ms. Lewis’ efforts by dropping by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation webpage and clicking on the Cambodia Challenge header.
As for the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation Provincial Ride, this year’s ride has so far raised $65,646.81 of a $58,000 goal, so one can safely declare it an outstanding success. Donors can pop by realtorscareontario.ca/ride to help put even more on the scoreboard.
