Editorials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Inspirational

By: Editorial

Posted: 01/2/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Kirby and Marie Fontaine were lucky when they won a $50-million Lotto Max in 2009, but the real winners were Manitobans. They have been models of grace, humility and kindness as they quietly go around sharing their wealth and making a difference in ways small and large.

Their latest act of charity occurred after Christmas when they showed up at the offices of the Christmas Cheer Board with a cheque for $50,000 to help cover the board's seasonal deficit. Typically, the couple didn't hang around for a photo-op or media interviews. They're not motivated by the need for attention, but by a genuine desire to help.

The Fontaines still spend most of their time on Sagkeeng First Nation living in an old trailer, although they have a new house in Winnipeg. They've hired people to repair the local church, build a fence and do other jobs on the reserve, while establishing a website with the goal of helping other reserves in the country.

Manitoba has many philanthropists -- the Fraser Institute recently named Manitoba the most generous place in Canada for the 14th year in a row -- but not too many like the Fontaines.

As the new year gets underway, may they be an inspiration for everyone to consider what they can give to make the world a better place. Not everyone has money to spare, but there are many worthy projects that only require the priceless commodities of time and energy.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 2, 2013 A10

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Editorials

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.