Aboriginal Philanthropy in Canada: A Foundation for Understanding

4.0 Case Study: Niigon Project
Moose Deer Point First Nation (MDPFN), located on
the eastern shore of Georgian Bay two hours north of
Toronto, is home to about 180 residents. Georgian Bay,
with its many lakes, freshwater beaches and islands,
is cottage country for many Ontario residents. The
Moose Deer Point community has three separate areas
including a commercial area that houses the marina,
the childcare centre, government services and, soon,
a fitness centre/gym/community centre. There are
two residential areas which are divided by Provincial
parklands. A recent tripartite agreement will see the
transfer of 263 hectares of provincial public lands
to the federal government for the First Nation. This
transfer will join the three parcels of land. Also included
in the land transfer agreement is an increase of the
surrounding O’Donnell Point Provincial Park, effectively
increasing protection for the park’s wetland habitat. In
2010, Moose Deer Point became the first community to
benefit from the construction of a new water system
thanks to Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Prior to that,
the community had been under a boil water advisory for
10 years.
There are a number of small businesses in the Moose
Deer Point area, most notably the Moose Deer Point
Marina, which opened in 1969. The Chief at the time,
Edward Williams, was a visionary who recognized
the opportunity for Moose Deer Point to establish a
marina to serve the many cottages on Georgian Bay
islands that are accessible only by water. Chief Williams
also led the community through the development of
Niigon Technologies until 2001, when the facility started
production.
The events that led to the realization of Niigon
Technologies have come to exemplify a model that
works for First Peoples and philanthropy. Robert
Schad, then President and Chief Executive Officer
of Husky Injection Molding and President and CEO of
the Schad Foundation, owns a cottage on the eastern
shore of Georgian Bay. To get to his cottage, he had
to drive through Moose Deer Point. He noticed that the
residents had few opportunities and recognized that
there was little year-round employment on the reserve.
On one trip, his car broke down and a young man from
the community came to his assistance. This encounter
led Schad to continue to give thought to what, if
anything, he could do to reach out to the community.
He began to sit with Chief Williams to discuss the
possibility of working with the community on sustainable
community development.
“Niigon Technologies exemplifies a model that works for
First Peoples and philanthropy.”
The Circle on Philanthropy & Aboriginal Peoples in Canada 36