Courtesy
Friends of Massey-Vanier Vikings Ian Crandall, Cindy Elston, and Dave Persons manned a booth at last year’s Brome Fair to raise funds for the school’s sports programs
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
With education funding shrinking and participation fees climbing, the Friends of Massey-Vanier Vikings (FMVV) are doubling down on their mission to ensure every student who wants to play sports at Massey-Vanier High School can do so—regardless of financial background.
“After nine years of effort, we’ve finally achieved Canadian charity status,” said FMVV board member Dave Persons in a recent interview. “That was a huge undertaking involving lawyers and applications, but it means we can now offer tax receipts and accept donations online through CanadaHelps.”
FMVV was founded to support the academic and athletic mission of the Massey-Vanier community. The new status has allowed the group to streamline donations, moving away from the complex process of working directly through the school board. “It’s now centralized,” said Persons. “Donors can give through our CanadaHelps page and get their tax receipt immediately.”
The shift comes at a crucial time. Educational budget cuts across Quebec, especially in the English-language school system, are putting programs under pressure. “This is going to be a bad year,” said Persons. “The ETSB schools are bleeding. Transportation fees alone can run up to $90,000 a year, and jerseys for just one team can cost up to $4,000.”
Nate Forster, Massey-Vanier’s athletic director and FMVV board member, regularly briefs the group on the impact of these cuts. “We’re talking about possible cancellations of tournaments and even entire teams,” Persons explained. “Our mission is simple—we will not allow that.”
The group has set a fundraising goal of $20,000 for the 2025–26 school year. According to their outreach material, it can cost families up to $1,000 per student-athlete per year for gear, travel, and tournament fees. “Our hope is to eliminate those fees altogether,” said former teacher and FMVV president Bob Kay. “When I started, kids didn’t pay anything to play. Now, many can’t afford it.”
FMVV sees their work as more than just financial support. They are working to strengthen the broader Viking community—reaching out to thousands of alumni across North America. “We’re not trying to double-tax the families currently in the school system,” Persons said. “We’re tapping into generations of Vikings who’ve walked through those gym doors.”
Community support has already started to roll in. The Class of 1975 raised over $1,000 during their 50th anniversary reunion, and the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club continues to sponsor annual educational tours of Montreal universities. The Waterloo Legion #077 has also stepped up with financial backing.
A new social media campaign is in the works, and FMVV will return to Brome Fair this fall with a community booth to raise awareness and connect with supporters. “We’re hitting next year really hard,” said Persons. “We want to be present at tournaments, support fundraising, and get back into the heart of the community.”
Donations can now be made online via www.canadahelps.org by searching for “The Friends of Massey-Vanier Vikings.” All proceeds go directly to supporting student-athletes.
“Our message is clear,” Persons said. “No parent should have to say, ‘Sorry, honey, we can’t afford for you to play.’ That’s not what this community is about. The Viking family looks out for each other.”