June Partridge and Brian DeWagner have some new nets for their non-profit field lacrosse and hockey programs for girls.
“Couldn’t have come at a better time,” said DeWagner.
“Everything was duct-tapped together after a decade.”
The founders of Janie Lax and Janie Puck – named after no one in particular, they said – are among six recipient groups in this year’s TD Thanks You campaign, celebrating people across North America making a difference.
Lacrosse balls, sticks for both sports, and a storage shed for the girls’ gear were also gifted to the couple in June, officials said.
“It was completely humbling,” said DeWagner.
He and Partridge said they started the field lacrosse program in 2013 in part because their daughter Zoey, now 13, didn’t want to wear a helmet while playing box lacrosse.
Their other daughter, Maggie, 10, also plays.
It’s also about making opportunities for youngsters to be involved in sports and in a community, they said.
“We started off with a few friends and it just grew from there,” Partridge said.
Registration was more than 100 for the lacrosse program – the hockey program is regularly around 30 – before the COVID-19 pandemic upended things in 2020, she said.
“Now we’re just building back up again,” she said.
Girls as young as four sign up and get used to lacrosse dressed up in fairy wings and tutus, but there’s also competitive travel play, DeWagner said.
Hockey cost is just the ice time, he said, and TD officials noted the couple helps source equipment for those in need.
DeWagner works for the Lambton Kent District School Board and Partridge works for TD, but both have backgrounds in not-for-profit groups working with youth, they said.
“We’re not in this just for the sport,” said Partridge.
“That’s just a tool that we use” to help inspire, added DeWagner.
TD team manager Jill Trotechaud nominated them.
“I was immediately captivated by June and Brian’s love for their community and their drive to make a difference in so many people’s lives,” she said in a statement.
“It was my privilege to nominate them” she said.