St. Mary's First Nation Youth Discover Their Best with the Ted Nolan
Foundation and the Tim Horton Children's Foundation

MONCTON, NB, Jan. 8 /CNW/ - This October, 50 Aboriginal youth from the St. Mary's First Nation will participate in a unique leadership camp at the Tim Horton Children's Camp in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. The five-day camp is a pilot for future expansion of a five-year partnership announced last fall between The Tim Horton Children's Foundation and the Ted Nolan Foundation.

The children who attend the camp will participate in programming adapted for Aboriginal youth from the Tim Horton Children's Foundation Youth Leadership Program, an experience designed to cultivate leadership skills, teamwork and independence through various wilderness activities. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear how to treat others through the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers explained by Aboriginal leaders.

"We are thrilled to serve even more children and the Aboriginal community through our growing partnership with the Ted Nolan Foundation," said Dave Newnham , vice-president of the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. "Last year more than 900 kids took part in our five-year Youth Leadership Program. Whether they spend five-days or five-years with us, these young leadership campers will discover themselves and their potential, making a lasting difference for them, their families and their community."

In addition to the pilot program in Atlantic Canada this fall, the partnership between the two foundations will see First Nation youth from Sault Ste. Marie First Nation sponsored by the Tim Horton Children's Foundation for the next four years. The first of these camps took place at the Tim Horton Children's Foundation Camp, Tim Horton Onondaga Farms, in St George, Ontario last October.

"I could not be more excited with the opportunity to share the Leadership Camp experience with even more young people this fall," said Nolan. "We are so grateful to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation for inviting youth from St. Mary's First Nation to participate in a Leadership Camp program. Together, we are achieving our foundation's goal by helping these young people learn valuable life lessons through an experience they might not otherwise have had."

Nolan, a former NHL Coach of the Year and native of Sault Ste. Marie First Nation, is vice president of hockey operations for the AHL Rochester Americans. He established his charitable foundation in 2004 to promote healthy lifestyles among First Nations youth.

The Ted Nolan Foundation is a registered charity that has been working since 2004 to establish leadership programs for First Nations youth. The Foundation combines the traditions, values and wisdom of the First Nations with the latest in training skills from corporate, educational, health, sports and recreation to encourage Aboriginal youth to pursue academic growth and foster healthy lifestyles.

The Tim Horton Children's Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization committed to providing an enriched and memorable camp experience to economically disadvantaged children. Since 1975, more than 120,000 youth have attended one of six Foundation camps across North America . Through the Community Partnership Program, the Foundation partners with community agencies and groups that provide services, support, and opportunities to children from economically disadvantaged homes to welcome thousands of children to experience its first-class facilities and programs, free of charge. Tim Horton Children's Camp is situated in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. The site encompasses 245 acres of ocean-front property on the Northumberland Strait, 130 kilometers north of Halifax .

For further information: Dave Newnham, Vice President and Executive Director, Tim Horton Children's Foundation, Tel [phone] ext 2227