Sault Ste. Marie
The Ontario Finnish Resthome
46 Walkers|12 Teams|97 Donors|$50 Today|5 Volunteers|50 Days Left
The Grand Parade is a family-friendly fundraiser walk that helps local charities who support aging Canadians and their families. Team up, walk, and fundraise with us on Saturday, September 19, 2026!
About The Ontario Finnish Resthome
For more than half a century, The Ontario Finnish Resthome (OFRA) has been a place where seniors are not just cared for but truly feel at home. Rooted in the Sault Ste. Marie community, we provide compassionate, multi-level care where dignity, respect, and quality of life guide everything we do.
With the continued support of our community, The Ontario Finnish Resthome Foundation has enhanced the everyday lives of our residents from essential equipment to enriching programs and more comfortable living spaces.
Thanks to the generosity shown through last year’s The Grand Parade, residents at Kotitalo now benefit from new dining room chairs that have improved comfort and accessibility, while creating more welcoming spaces to gather, share meals, and connect.
This year, our focus turns to enhancing daily life for our Mauno Kaihla Koti Long-Term Care residents.
On September 19, 2026, our community will once again come together in support of our seniors. Funds raised through The Grand Parade, with a goal of $50,000, will go toward providing 63 smart televisions one for each resident along with Bluetooth wireless headphones.
While there are many important needs in long-term care, this initiative was chosen for its meaningful impact on everyday life. A smart television is more than entertainment it brings comfort, routine, and connection. It also supports telehealth access for residents with limited mobility, helps maintain engagement during periods of restricted activity, and allows residents to stay connected with loved ones through video calls and shared moments, even when visits are not possible.
It also provides a way to revisit cherished memories through photos, music, and familiar programs offering comfort, identity, and a sense of belonging in their own space. In this way, a television becomes more than a screen; it becomes a bridge to loved ones, to memories, and to the world beyond their room.
As a valued sponsor of The Grand Parade, you are an essential part of this impact. Your support helps create a more comfortable, connected, and caring home for our seniors.
We invite you to be part of “Homes with a Heart.” Join us on September 19, 2026 become a team captain, walk with friends and family, or support someone who is participating. Every step makes a difference.
Because when a community comes together with heart, it becomes more than support it becomes home.
Sault Ste. Marie Scoreboard
Are you thrashing the competition (for a good cause)? Find out here! Stats are updated every 15 minutes. See how you stack up on the national scoreboard >
Community Sponsors
Sault Ste. Marie (The Ontario Finnish Resthome) is super grateful for our fantastic 2026 sponsors! View all sponsors >
Event Day Details
Save the date - TGP Day is September 19, 2026!
Schedule
- 10:00 am: Meet Check-in
- 10:45 am: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
- 11:00 am: Move Send-off
- 12:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 1:00 pm: Mosey Thank You! See you in 2027!
Not able to join us at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
Route Details
- Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
- Rest Stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
- Signage: Routes will be well-signed with bold branded TGP signs.
- Route Support: Route marshals and rest stop hosts will provide support along the route.
- Walkers 12 and Under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at The Grand Parade except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >
Check-In
- All walkers participating at the Main Event on Saturday, September 19, 2026 must check-in upon arrival.
- Please Note: There is no registration fee to participate in The Grand Parade but fundraising is encouraged.
- T-shirts! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a TGP shirt as a thank you on Event Day, while supplies last.
- Offsite fundraising walkers can contact their local event director to arrange shirt pickup the week of the event.
Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!
Handling Money
- Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the TGP Head Office.
- Cheques: The Old Faithful - made out to The Grand Parade with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to TGP Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
- Cash: You have 2 options:
- 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Cheques,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
- 2. Write a cheque (made out to “The Grand Parade”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the TGP Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.
Waivers
All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.
- Adults accept the waiver automatically when they register online.
- Youth/Children under the age of majority need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
- An online waiver form will be emailed to all parents/guardians before TGP Day.
- You may also bring a filled-out printed waiver.
- Waiver forms will be available at check-in on TGP Day.
What to Bring
A few common sense suggestions:
- A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
- Good shoes for walking
- Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
- Your own water bottle
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for
TGP Photos from 2025
Thanks to all of our amazing volunteer photographers! If you've got TGP photos or videos you'd like to share, contact photos@bluesea.org.
Contact Us
TGP Sault Ste. Marie 2026
The TGP Team Participant & Donor Services
Toll Free 1.877.743.3413 / Phone 519.603.2250
Email saultstemarie@thegrandparade.org