It Starts With Opportunity: How Tato Recruiting and Miller Realty Are Changing the Future of Youth Sport in Northern Ontario

During the 2025-2026 season 13 Thunder athletes will take the court thanks to the generosity of two remarkable community partners: John Beaupré and Tato Recruiting, (TATO WEBSITE) and Linda Miller and Jada Miller of Miller Realty Inc., Brokerage (WEBSITE).

Together, these organizations are doing far more than sponsoring a basketball club. They're investing in young people, building confidence, creating opportunities, and ensuring competitive basketball remains accessible for families across Northern Ontario.

While their grant programs have directly changed the lives of 13 athletes this season, their impact reaches far beyond those individual registrations. Through their continued investment in the Temiskaming Thunder Basketball Club and alongside the support of many incredible local businesses (view our sponsors) they're helping create opportunities for every athlete who dreams of wearing a Thunder jersey.

More Than Sponsorship—An Investment in Every Thunder Athlete

When people hear about our grant programs, they often assume they only impact the athletes receiving financial assistance. The truth is, their impact reaches every family in our club.

While Tato Recruiting and Miller Realty Inc., Brokerage have each created dedicated grant programs that remove financial barriers through the Tato Recruiting Indigenous Leadership Grant, Tato Recruiting Financial Need & Leadership Grant, and the Miller Realty Her Future in Sport Grant, both organizations also invest directly in the overall success of the Temiskaming Thunder Basketball Club.

Alongside the support of our incredible community sponsors, their contributions help offset the day-to-day costs of operating a volunteer-run, non-profit basketball club, from OBA fees, tournament registration, swag kits, tournament administration to equipment, insurance, coach development, and athlete programming.

That support allows Temiskaming Thunder to keep registration fees among the lowest in the Ontario Basketball Association, something we've prioritized since day one.

For families in Northern Ontario, registration is only one piece of the financial commitment. Throughout the season, our athletes travel hundreds of kilometres for league play and tournaments, with additional costs for fuel, hotels, meals, and weekends away from home. Those expenses add up quickly, and we never want registration itself to become another barrier keeping a young athlete off the court.

"When people hear about these grants, they naturally think about the athletes receiving them—and those athletes absolutely deserve to be celebrated, but what many don't realize is that organizations like Tato Recruiting and Miller Realty are also investing in our entire program. Their support allows us to help Indigenous athletes, female athletes, and families facing financial barriers while also keeping basketball affordable for every Thunder player. That's incredibly important to us because we know Northern Ontario families already invest so much just to get to tournaments. These partnerships don't just change the lives of 13 athletes this season—they help create opportunities for every child who dreams of wearing a Thunder jersey." - Morgan Johanson, President and Co-Founder of the Temiskaming Thunder

Tato Recruiting: Two Years of Investing in Future Leaders

This season marks the second consecutive year that John Beaupré and Tato Recruiting have partnered with Temiskaming Thunder to remove financial barriers and invest in the next generation of leaders.

Founded in 2021, Tato Recruiting is an Indigenous-owned IT professional services staffing firm led by New Liskeard native and TDSS graduate John Beaupré. Having grown up with basketball as a significant part of his own life, John understands firsthand the impact sport can have on a young person—not only as an athlete, but as a leader within their community.

In just two seasons, Tato Recruiting has now fully funded registration for 23 Thunder athletes—12 during the inaugural year of the program and another 11 this season. Beyond funding registrations, Tato Recruiting continues to invest in the Thunder program itself, helping ensure opportunities extend well beyond the athletes receiving grants.

This year's Tato Recruiting Grant Program recognizes athletes through two streams:

• Indigenous Leadership Grant – celebrating Indigenous athletes who demonstrate leadership, dedication, resilience, and pride in their communities.

• Financial Need & Leadership Grant – supporting athletes whose financial circumstances could otherwise prevent them from participating while recognizing their commitment, character, and leadership.

Together, these grants reflect Tato Recruiting's belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to grow through sport.

2026 Indigenous Leadership Grant Recipients

This year's recipients are:

• Jayda McMartin – Temagami First Nation | TDSS | Grade 10

• Hailey Schenk – Constance Lake First Nation | EHS | Grade 11

• Owen LeBlanc – Timiskaming First Nation | TDSS | Grade 10

• Isia C. Laliberté – Kitcisakik First Nation | École Frère Moffet | Grade 11

Each recipient represents the values this award was created to celebrate. Their applications spoke of resilience, community pride, leadership, and the confidence that comes from representing both their First Nation and the Thunder family.

One athlete shared:

"Representing my community isn't something I take lightly. Being from the Rez, we don't always get the same sports opportunities, but I'm proud every time I put on my Thunder jersey."

Another reflected on how basketball helped build confidence:

"One challenge I've faced is a lack of confidence in myself. Sport helped me overcome it because my coaches and teammates encouraged me, pushed me to try new things, and helped me trust my abilities."

For another recipient, the feeling was much simpler:

"When I'm on the court, I feel like it's where I was meant to be."

Those words capture exactly what the Indigenous Leadership Grant was created to celebrate. Leadership. Identity. Belonging. The confidence to represent your community with pride.

Removing Financial Barriers; Tato Recruiting Financial Need & Leadership Grant

While the recipients of the Tato Recruiting Financial Need & Leadership Grant remain confidential to respect the privacy of athletes and their families, the impact of this program is impossible to ignore. This season, seven Thunder athletes received this support, ensuring financial circumstances didn't stand in the way of an opportunity to play. Every application told a different story, but they all shared one thing in common—basketball had become so much more than a sport.

One athlete wrote:

"Being in the Thunder program means the entire world to me, other than my family and friends."

Another shared how basketball helped them overcome one of their biggest challenges:

"Playing sports has helped me overcome my shyness by giving me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and connect with others."

Another reflected on the confidence they discovered after joining the program:

"I have faced having low self-esteem and being shy. Once I started playing basketball, I became more confident in myself."

Perhaps the most powerful perspective came from a family who shared the reality many Northern Ontario households face:

"As a single parent, this support allows my child to continue playing the sport they love."

Miller Realty: Empowering the Next Generation of Female Athletes

This season also marked an exciting milestone for Temiskaming Thunder with the launch of the Miller Realty "Her Future in Sport" Grant.

Created through the generosity of Linda Miller and Jada Miller of Miller Realty Inc., Brokerage, this new initiative was established to celebrate leadership, perseverance, and the incredible impact sport can have on young women while helping remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent them from participating in competitive basketball.

In its inaugural year, the program has fully funded registration for three outstanding Thunder athletes:

• Abby Ruddy – New Liskeard | TDSS | Grade 12

• Cheyenne Regele – Englehart | EHS | Grade 8

• Karianne Rivard – New Liskeard | École secondaire catholique Sainte-Marie | Grade 11

  
  

Each of this year's recipients has earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and peers in different ways. Abby enters her third Thunder season after captaining our U19 team and earning TDSS Senior Athlete of the Year honours as a Grade 11 student. Cheyenne, just entering Grade 8, has already earned a place on Thunder's U16 team, competing three years above her age group, almost unheard of in the OBA world. Returning for her second season, Karianne continues to lead quietly by example, consistently demonstrating maturity, coachability, and an unwavering commitment to her teammates.

Although each athlete's journey is unique, their applications shared remarkably similar themes. They wrote about confidence. About belonging. About leadership. About the friendships they've built through basketball.

One athlete reflected on what Thunder has meant to her:

"Thunder is so much more than basketball. It's family. I've become a stronger player, more confident, and I truly feel like I belong."

Another shared how basketball shaped the person she is today:

"Playing basketball has improved my confidence, my self-esteem, and helped me become the person I am today."

When asked what advice they would give younger girls considering basketball, one recipient offered words that perfectly capture the spirit of this grant:

"Be brave and give it your all. We all make mistakes—even the pros do. Pick yourself up quickly and make the next play even better."

Another reflected on the unique experience of growing up and playing sport in Northern Ontario:

"Living in Northern Ontario means connection and friendships through sport. You're not just a number here—you're part of one big community and family."

Those words perfectly reflect what Linda and Jada Miller hoped to achieve when they created the Her Future in Sport Grant. They're not simply investing in basketball registrations.

They're investing in confident young women who lead by example, lift up those around them, and inspire the next generation of girls to believe in themselves.

More Than Basketball

As we finished reading this year's grant applications, one thing became impossible to ignore. Not one athlete measured their season by points scored. Not one talked about winning championships.

Instead, they wrote about confidence. Friendships. Leadership. Overcoming challenges. Finding a place where they truly belonged.

Time and time again, the same message appeared in different words.

Thunder had become more than a basketball club.

It had become a family.

One athlete wrote:

"My Thunder family has helped me tremendously. My teammates support and encourage me, and my coaches are my saving grace—they truly care. Without Thunder, I don't know where my life would have taken me."

Another described the impact of the program in just a few simple words:

"Thunder is so much more than basketball. It's family."

Others reflected on the confidence they discovered through the game.

"Playing sports has helped me overcome my shyness and connect with others. I've learned to trust my teammates, communicate, and believe in myself."

"Basketball has given me confidence and friendships I'll have for life. I've learned so much more than the sport itself through my teammates and coaches."

Several athletes spoke about what it means to represent their communities throughout Northern Ontario.

"Representing my community isn't something I take lightly. Being from the Rez, we don't always get the same sports opportunities, but I'm proud every time I put on my Thunder jersey."

Another reflected on the unique experience of growing up in the North.

"Living in Northern Ontario means connection and friendships through sport. You're not just a number here—you're part of one big community and family."

Reading through every application, it became clear that these young athletes weren't asking for someone to believe in their jump shot. They were asking for an opportunity. An opportunity to compete. To grow. To build confidence. To find lifelong friendships. And, above all else, to belong.

That's exactly what partners like Tato Recruiting and Miller Realty Inc., Brokerage have chosen to invest in. Not simply basketball. People. Young people who will become tomorrow's teachers, nurses, business owners, tradespeople, coaches, parents, and community leaders.

"Every year these applications remind us that basketball is only a small part of what we're building," says Morgan Johanson, President and Co-Founder of Temiskaming Thunder Basketball Club. "Our athletes write about confidence, resilience, leadership, belonging, and finding a family. That's what John, Linda, and Jada are investing in. They're investing in young people, and that's something our entire community should be incredibly proud of."

Thank You

Community organizations like Temiskaming Thunder exist because people choose to invest in something bigger than themselves.

To John Beaupré and everyone at Tato Recruiting, thank you for making this your second consecutive year of investing in Thunder athletes. In just two seasons, your organization has funded registration for 23 young athletes, while also helping ensure our program remains affordable and accessible for families across Northern Ontario.

To Linda Miller and Jada Miller of Miller Realty Inc., Brokerage, thank you for launching the Her Future in Sport Grant and immediately creating new opportunities for young women in our community. Your commitment to supporting female athletes will have an impact that reaches far beyond this season.

We also want to recognize the many businesses, organizations, and individuals who support Temiskaming Thunder throughout the year. Every sponsorship, donation, volunteer hour, and partnership plays a role in creating opportunities for young athletes across our region.

Congratulations to this year's grant recipients. Thank you to every athlete who took the time to share your story with us. Your honesty, vulnerability, and passion for the game made this year's selection process incredibly meaningful.

And to our sponsors—thank you for believing that every young person deserves the chance to play, to grow, and to belong. Because of you, more young people will wear a Thunder jersey this season.

More importantly, they'll carry the confidence, friendships, and lessons they gain through this program long after the final buzzer sounds.