THUNDER BAY – The Ontario government is providing more than $68,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to Female Boarder Coalition in Thunder Bay for two internship opportunities at the Cinema 5 Skatepark. This investment will help strengthen and develop northern Ontario’s workforce.

“Our government is hard at work making targeted investments that support economic development and growth right here in Thunder Bay,” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan. “These investments demonstrate how, together with our northern partners, we are building strong, vibrant communities and creating real opportunities for the people who live in the north.”

Female Boarder Coalition provides a safe and inclusive space for skateboarding in Thunder Bay, with dedicated programs for people who identify as female, non-binary and 2SLGBTQQIA+. The not-for-profit corporation will use NOHFC funding of $68,890 to hire a:

• Park Project Officer to manage daily operations of the Cinema 5 Skatepark and shop;
• Project Co-ordination Officer to develop and implement skatepark programs such as after-school programs, professional development days and winter/summer camps.

The Ontario government is supporting local internships through the NOHFC’s People and Talent Program. The program supports a wide variety of internships, including skilled trades, and addresses the unique needs of other in-demand jobs. Program candidates include new entrants into the workforce, those transitioning to a new career, the unemployed and underemployed.

“With the support of the NOHFC People and Talent Program Workforce Development Stream, the Female Boarder Coalition and Cinema 5 Skatepark will be able to provide important skills and training for two intern positions that will build valuable and transferable skills to the workforce and help us fulfill our mission,” said Vanessa Bowles, Founder and Executive Director of the Female Boarder Coalition. “The community will benefit from the impact these positions will have on the youth who are accessing the indoor skatepark and our programs.”

“Our government is helping more northern Ontario businesses provide on-the-job career development,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “NOHFC funding is helping address skilled labour shortages and creating new opportunities for diverse local talent.”

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $608 million in 5,070 projects in northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.93 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 8,100 jobs.

Quick Facts

• The construction of the Cinema 5 Skatepark, an indoor skatepark offering year-round skateboard and snowboard programs to all Thunder Bay residents, was accomplished with the assistance of a grant of $58,253 from the NOHFC in 2022.

• In 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the north.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.

Media Contacts

Erika Robson, Minister’s Office — 416-450-1309 — erika.robson@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca