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Winnipeg tailgate event marks Blue Bombers opener with $25K donation for Kids Health

A tailgate-style event on Kenaston Boulevard brought together football fans, local leaders, and community partners on June 11, as Western Financial Group, a proud partner of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, marked the team’s home opener with a $25,000 donation in support of children’s health care across Canada.

The event combined game-day energy with a local community celebration while marking the transition of former Wyatt Dowling branded locations across Manitoba to the Western Financial Group name, a change that has expanded the company’s presence across the province. The celebration included tailgate activities, prize giveaways, and appearances by Winnipeg Blue Bombers mascots Buzz and Boomer.

“This was about bringing people together,” said Grant Ostir, CEO of Western Financial Group. “The home opener is always an exciting moment in Winnipeg, and it gave us a meaningful way to connect with the community while recognizing this important step for our team in Manitoba.”

A ribbon cutting also took place onsite, with Ostir joined by Wade Miller, president and CEO of the Blue Bombers, and Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala.

“The home opener is always a special moment for our fans and our community,” said Miller. “We’re proud to work with partners like Western Financial Group that share our commitment to bringing people together and supporting important causes here in Manitoba.”

The charitable component was led by the Western Communities Foundation, Western Financial Group’s non-profit arm, which presented a $25,000 donation to Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations (CCHF) through its national Quote for Hope initiative. While CCHF is a national foundation, funds raised through the campaign are directed to children’s hospital foundations and programs in the communities where they are generated, including support for children and families in Manitoba.

Stefano Grande, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, accepted the cheque on behalf of the CCHF. “When the community comes together, kids and families benefit,” said Grande. “This donation will help support important care and programs for children across Manitoba, and we’re thankful to Western Financial Group and the Western Communities Foundation for standing with us.”

Quote for Hope was launched as part of the Western Communities Foundation’s 25th anniversary. For every eligible home or commercial insurance quote, $10 is directed to children’s hospital foundations across Canada, with contributions staying in the communities where they are generated.

Ostir, who also serves as president of the Western Communities Foundation, said the initiative is intended to make local giving easier to support.

“It’s about creating simple ways for people to contribute to something meaningful,” he said. “When those efforts stay in the communities where our customers and employees live, the impact becomes more direct.”

For attendees, the June 11 event offered a chance to connect with neighbours, celebrate the start of another CFL season and support children’s health care in Manitoba.