Keatsconnelly Unites Phoenix Canadians For 25th Consecutive Year As Sponsor Of Great Canadian Picnic

Jan. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- PHOENIX, AZ – [January 27, 2012] – KeatsConnelly, the largest cross-border wealth management firm in North America that specializes in helping Canadians and Americans realize their dreams of a cross-border lifestyle, is proud to be among the supporters for the Great Canadian Picnic for the 25th year in a row, as a Silver Maple Leaf Sponsor.  2012 marks the annual event’s 60th year of joining locals, Canadian snowbirds, and Canadians new to the U.S. for a day of games, live music, prizes, food and fellowship, all free of charge.

It all began in 1953, when Vic Wallace acquired acute asthma from his job at the Wallace Lumber Mill and was instructed by his doctor to relocate to a drier climate, in the interest of lengthening his life.  Taking the physician’s advice, Vic, his two daughters and his wife Reta left their home in Thamesford, a small rural town within Ontario, Canada and moved to the metropolitan area of downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

Vic and Reta began the Canadian Social Club of Greater Phoenix not long after settling into their new home, in hopes of combatting the loneliness and homesick feelings that often plagued newcomers.  Since its inception in the mid 1950s, the group has flourished, connecting Canadian families and individuals across the valley with others who understand the struggles and unique identities Canadians carry in taking up residency in the United States.

The Canadian Picnic was one of the first projects tackled by the social group.  Vic, Reta and their fellow members of the club championed their event by leaving hand-written invitations on the windshields of every car spotted with a Canadian license plate in valley parking lots.  This old-fashioned promotional tactic yielded a result of roughly 500 picnic attendees.

KeatsConnelly enthusiastically sponsors the event once again this year as the proceeds from The Great Canadian Picnic benefit the Canadians in Arizona Benefitting Education and Exhange (CIABEE) organization.  The CIABEE provides funding for “Camp Courage” in Prescott, an annual fun and recovery retreat for youth that have survived serious burns in Calgary, bringing smiles to their faces, and accelerating their recovery time.  

In addition to “Camp Courage,” funds from the event also help to sustain the Youth Embassador Exchange.  Each year high school juniors in Phoenix are selected to travel and stay in their Sister Cities and return with ”brothers and sisters” from those cities for a complete cultural awakening and learning experience for all participants.

“We aid people in achieving their dreams of a cross-border lifestyle by providing them with financial security and peace of mind.  This event takes what we do a step further, offering a meeting place for all Canadians here in Arizona to bond and extend his or her own network of support.  When you combine that with the truly admirable causes of the benefitting programs, sponsoring this event year after year is a no-brainer,” said Robert Keats, founder of KeatsConnelly.

The Great Canadian Picnic will be held Saturday, February 4th from 10:00am - 3:00pm at the South Mountain Park Activity Complex in Phoenix.


About KeatsConnelly

KeatsConnelly is the largest and most experienced Canada-U.S. cross border wealth management firm in the United States specializing in assisting Canadians and Americans living a cross-border lifestyle.  We simplify the lives of high net worth Canadians living and working in Canada and the United States by providing complete and customized cross-border tax, financial planning and investment management services to assist our clients in realizing their dream of a cross-border lifestyle.  With offices in Arizona and Florida, we have unmatched cross-border expertise.  For more information, please visit www.keatsconnelly.com.

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KeatsConnelly is the largest and most experienced Canada-U.S. cross border wealth management firm in the United States.