It’s always been important for Mitch Marner to give back to local communities throughout his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs but his charitable work often extends outside the Greater Toronto Area. Marner was on hand Friday to help open a new playground for MacTier Public School in MacTier, Ontario, roughly two hours north of Toronto.
Marner and the Marner Assist Foundation helped raise money for the new playground, which comes in at an estimated cost just under $100,000.
“The park looks great, and we’re hoping everyone enjoys it throughout the summers and hot days,” Marner said Friday to the Parry Sound North Star’s Julian Orlando Chaves. “It’s a beautiful day out there, and we hope everyone enjoys us for the rest of the summer and for many summers going forward.”
Marner has been active in his community work throughout the summer as he joined Max Domi, along with several Maple Leafs legends including Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour and Darryl Sittler in the announcement of a $14 million donation from Carangel Corporation to the William Osler Health Foundation, earmarked for a second hospital in Brampton, during Hockey Night in Brampton in August. And for those counting at home, Team Marner defeated Team Domi during the on-ice portion of the event.
It was a tragic day in the hockey world on Friday, after Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by an alleged drunk driver who collided with them, when they were riding bicycles in New Jersey. Marner did not speak about any activities related to hockey and reiterated his and his foundation’s support for the public school playground.
Marner isn’t just paying lip service to community involvement, he’s been at the forefront of the Maple Leafs’ social initiatives this summer and certainly knows what it means to be a Maple Leaf.
