First Assist charity
About
Our vision is for all Indigenous youth, regardless of where they are born and their athletic ability, to graduate from high school and have hopes for the future.
Our Story
First Assist was founded by John Chabot, a former NHL hockey player from the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi First Nation.
John started developing relationships with other Indigenous communities at the beginning of his hockey career and has continued the work for over 30 years. His work started with hockey clinics and role model / motivational talks but evolved to include health and education through sport in Indigenous communities across the country. Through the work he has done he has forged relationships based on friendship and respect in many remote Northern communities which otherwise do not receive much attention.
Why we do this
Our Mission
First Assist’s mission is to help Indigenous students – especially those hardest to reach – find success in school by using sport as a motivational tool to promote attendance, increase classroom engagement and promote healthy habits for life.
After he retired from playing hockey in 2001, John dedicated more time to hockey programming in Indigenous communities, especially in the far north. While goal-setting, health and education were always elements of his discussions with youth, he became increasingly convinced of the power of using sports to promote other objectives, particularly school attendance and mental health.
Buoyed by the success of the Cree Nation of Eastmain, which boosted high school graduation rates at least in part by tying school attendance to participation in the school’s sports program, John applied for charitable status in 2017 with the goal of boosting education outcomes through sports.
First Assist received its charitable status in January of 2021 and is now working to achieve its goals in several First Nation and Inuit communities.
Management and Governance
First Assist is managed and governed entirely by volunteers.
A small team of hockey players and coaches, an educational professional and board members operate the charity on a day-to-day basis. In-community programming is supported through charitable donations and contributions from the host community.
John Chabot
Founder
John Chabot is an Anishinabeg Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi First Nation and a former professional athlete and coach with 22 years experience including 12 in the NHL.
On retiring he found a new passion working with indigenous youth across the country. Since 2001 he has travelled to communities from coast to coast to coast. Using hockey as a segue he was able to create relationships based on trust and respect. The hockey clinics he was teaching turned into hockey/education conversations which led to the formation of First Assist.
He has also helped organize the NHL Indigenous Alumni team and been part of TV hockey shows highlighting Indigenous youth.
Sean Rudy
Educational Specialist & Facilitator
Sean is a former hockey player and educator with nearly a decade of experience in First Nation schools and integrating sports programming with educational advancement. He advises First Assist and its partner communities on structuring programs to advance educational achievement.
Sean earned an NCAA Division 1 scholarship playing for the Bemidji State University Beavers in Bemidji, Minnesota. Sean completed his English and Education degree at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. Following graduation Sean played professional hockey in the ECHL and the SPHL.
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He worked for six years in the Cree Community of Eastmain as the physical education teacher for both the elementary and secondary sectors at Wabannutao Eeyou School, and was the head instructor for Eastmain’s minor hockey and broomball programs. He is currently at Tsi Snaihne School of the Akwesasne Mohawk School Board where he works as a homeroom grade 8 teacher.
Sean helped to pioneer an innovative sports concentration initiative at Wabannutao Eeyou School. The Sports Concentration Program is the first of its kind in the Cree School Board. The main goal of the program is to promote the graduation rate in Eastmain by using sports as a tool to promote attendance and develop engaged student-athletes. In 2019, Eastmain saw its highest ever graduation rate with the first cohort of students to take part in this program
Kyle Chabot
Facilitator
Kyle played junior hockey until pursuing a degree in biochemistry and later medicine at McGill University.
He has over 15 years of experience traveling and working in Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast. He is a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation.
Andrew Antsanen
Facilitator
Andrew was born and raised in Northlands Denesuline First Nation. He grew up with his own language, being taught his culture and traditions by his father.
He left home at the age of 13 to attend Notre Dame Hockey Academy in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. He played at their tier 1 hockey team until graduating at the age of 18. That same year he participated in the inaugural season of Hit the Ice, a hockey based Indigenous reality TV show developed for APTN. The following three seasons were spent in Kahnawke Mohawk Territory playing for their junior AAA team. During his final season, he started training to become a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, which he did for a number of years finishing as the third-ranked amateur in Canada.
While training, Andrew went back to school to get a degree in carpentry which he used for five years, eventually heading up his own crew building houses in the northern part of New York State. For the past three years, he has been one of the main characters in CraveTV Shoresy, which has opened doors for him to not only continue to play hockey, but also to act.
Andrew joined First Assist five years ago and has been more and more involved in the implementation of programming in subsequent years.
Mike Diabo
Educational Specialist & Trainer
Mike is of the Turtle Clan, he resides in his home community of Kitigan Zibi. He has been a high school science educator, college and university guest lecturer, curriculum consultant and land based learning facilitator for over 16 years. With a background in land literacy, Mike specializes in bridging western science with Anishinabe ancestral knowledge.
Trained in biomechanics and strength & conditioning, Mike has worked as a sports conditioning specialist for over 20 years – training and designing programs for athletes of various sports from minor levels all the way up to the professional ranks.
Mike has worked with First Assist for many years, doing off-ice training and education.
Cherill Baynham
Board of Directors
Cherill is a settler and ally that has dedicated her entire 23 year career with the Canadian federal government to addressing past wrongs, advancing reconciliation and creating systemic change through her work with Indigenous peoples in a variety of roles across several departments.
Currently a Senior Advisor and the Manager of the Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ Relations Unit with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Cherill is leading efforts to support advancing the interests and priorities of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ peoples. Most recently Cherill led the development and implementation of the federal government’s first ever funding program ($36.3M) dedicated to Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations.
Cherill grew up in beautiful Prince Edward County and now lives in Ottawa with her husband and two sons.
Aubrey Charette
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Prior to law school, Aubrey worked on on-reserve economic development issues in Canada and on international development with the United Nations and then-called Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, starting her career in the office of Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy. She has lived in Papua New Guinea, Turkey, and in several European countries. She received her bachelors and masters degree in Politics and Economics from Oxford University and civil and common law degrees from McGill University. She is a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation.
Aubrey has served and continues to serve on a number of non-profit boards, including as Vice-Chair of Oxfam Canada.
Shelly De Caria
Board of Directors
Shelly is the President and CEO of Canadian North, the first Inuk to lead the airline.
Prior to joining Canadian North, Shelly worked at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, advancing the rights and interests of Canada’s Inuit population. At Canadian North, Shelly has served in a variety of roles and has developed a range of community investment programs spanning education, sport, nutrition, and mental health, embodying a holistic approach towards community betterment.
Shelly was born and raised in Kuujjuaq, Québec, with Inuktitut as her second language. She has two amazing children with her husband, Michael, and lives in Ottawa.
Freddy Perowne
Board of Directors
After retiring from competitive hockey and coming back home to Canada, Freddy and his former teammates founded ‘Hockey Without Borders / Hockey Sans Frontieres,’ a registered non-profit organization that links coaches with grassroots hockey communities around the world. At the same time, Freddy has been involved for seven seasons with the Cree Nation Bears, where he was named ‘Coach of the Year’ in the Abitibi League (despite a last place finish). During his time living in the Cree Nation of Mistissini, he served as Head Coach for the Eastern Door & North, at four National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, helping the women’s team to a Bronze medal in 2014.
Shawn Rivers
Board of Directors
Shawn is a former NHL hockey player who spent time with the Tampa Bay Lightning and parts of seven seasons in the International Hockey League; finishing up his career with a two year stint in Europe.
He initially established a sign making enterprise (GunnMedia Group) that quickly grew into one of the largest promotional product companies in the Eastern Ontario region. It supplied high-quality promotional items, graphic design services, signage, and reward & recognition programs to its clients across Canada. Today, Shawn employs a dedicated team of over 17 people, spread out over two companies, who pride themselves in providing the highest level of service, quality products and customer satisfaction possible.
Shawn and his business partner John Chabot opened an indigenous branding company in 2006 know as Anish Branding. This endeavor has grown into a venture that now supports many charitable organizations and takes great pride in giving back to the community.
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Shawn was honored as one of the ‘Forty Under 40’ by the Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ) in 2002. The OBJ’s ‘Forty Under 40’ is an annual ranking recognizing the Ottawa business community’s elite. The awards honor young business stars that have played a vital role in the city’s economic, cultural and philanthropic development. That same year, Shawn received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. He also sits on the Executive Board of the Ottawa Senators Alumni.
Jeff Turner
Board of Directors
Jeff is currently the Executive Director of the National Apprenticeships Program at the Native Women’s Association of Canada, and was previously the Senior Manager Indigenous Partnerships and Special Projects, Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ottawa. Prior to Algonquin College, Jeff was Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer at Kind Canada, a national not-for-profit with a goal to educate and inspire Canadians to create a pervasive culture of kindness. Jeff also spent over 12 years with United Way Ottawa and Canada in senior roles in a fundraising capacity and establishing relationships, working with others to raise millions changing lives across the country.
In a volunteer capacity he has been involved with Project North, a not-for profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in Canada’s far north for 14 years, currently in the role of board chair. He occupies the same position at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa, and is also a National Champion for Global Dignity and advisor to R.I.S.E Academy.
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He is a recipient of a United Way Community Builder Award, City of Ottawa Mayor’s Medallion, St. Joe’s Women’s Centre Quality of Life and Ottawa Senators/Algonquin College Hero of the Game Award.
Jeff is a proud Ottawa native with three grown children and three grandchildren.
Financial Information
We are a registered charity