Thunder Bay Cricket Council giving back to the community
The Thunder Bay Cricket Council has big plans in store for 2026 as they try to grow the sport in northwestern Ontario.
First on the agenda is community charity. The council is collecting cash donations and goodie bags of life essentials all week for those in need.
On Sunday from noon to 3 pm, they will be donated along with a free meal at the Shelter House during Stuff a Bag Day.
“The cricket players (in Thunder Bay) are mostly all immigrants, so there are a lot of different countries coming together in one place,” said Cricket Council Marketing Manager Abhiram Giri. “They gave us a warm welcome to the land of Thunder Bay, now we have to give it back to them too.”
Giri says there is high demand for the event. The council is hoping to donate 90 goodie bags in total, filled with food, snacks, toiletries and tools.
He identified throat lozenges, lighters, instant noodles and sweet snacks as key donation needs.
“We thought giving back to the community was the next step for us, so we put together an outreach campaign for people who are in need, especially people who are experiencing homelessness,” Giri said.
About 75 to 90 people will come to grab a free meal and a goodie bag on Sunday. The event is part of the council’s larger outreach program called Cricket Gives Back.
To donate cash or goods, reach out to the Shelter House beforehand via text or call and mention the Stuff a Bag event.
“I always love to see groups that aren’t based on charity come together to do good,” said Shelter House Executive Director Brendan Carlin. “The Thunder Bay Cricket Council isn’t mandated to help out, but as a collective they realized they can support those who need it in our community as well as play cricket. It truly shows the power of community, and I’m inspired and grateful for that.”
The Thunder Bay Cricket Council was established as a non-profit organization in 2022, and they have wasted no time making their mark on the community. Thunder Bay now has two cricket fields and a four-team league operated by the council.
The council has an official team named Tbay Kombans, who represent the city in tournaments at the regional and provincial level.
“We’re doing a lot of different things to bring up this sport,” Giri said. “We have received a lot of different support, sponsorship and assistance from the city, the CEDC (The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Committee), and a lot of other organizations here in Thunder Bay.”
“We have received such a warm and welcoming response from the Thunder Bay community since we first started. Today, with a growing base of players, multiple cricket clubs and two cricket fields in the city, we are incredibly grateful to be part of this community and to help build cricket as a new and thriving sport here.”
