Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Knights of Columbus, Frère André Council 8163

The Knights of Columbus Frère André Council 8163 is a francophone council founded on 25 April 1982 at St‑Vincent‑de‑Paul Parish in North Bay, Ontario. As a local branch of the Catholic fraternal order, it combines volunteer service with charitable giving in support of parish life and the wider community. The council remains very active, organizing activities and financial support for parish works and community initiatives.

According to the parish description, the Knights offer practical assistance at funerals and other parish services, while also contributing financially to parish projects. Beyond the parish, they provide ongoing financial support to organizations such as the Arthritis Society, the Société Saint‑Vincent‑de‑Paul and Pro‑Life North Bay. The hospital foundation of North Bay has relied on the council to help raise funds for its cancer centre, including through special tag‑day style fundraising activities, and the Knights are also involved in fundraising for a planned hospice in North Bay.

The council directs much of its support to people in need in the local francophone and broader North Bay community. It responds to requests from individuals and groups, adapting its involvement “according to needs that arise and requests received.” Its youth program organizes activities such as free‑throw competitions and supports French‑language schools through donations for school activities. In addition, the council awards scholarships to secondary school graduates, offering direct financial recognition and support to young people pursuing further education or community involvement.

Alongside these donations, the Knights contribute volunteer time to initiatives such as Canadian Blood Services blood drives, for which members volunteer twice a year. Regular community events, including a monthly Sunday breakfast, foster fellowship with parishioners and create informal opportunities to strengthen community ties and charitable engagement.

Within the parish governance structure, Frère André Council 8163 is identified as one of the parish organizations in the service of the community. It works alongside other lay groups and parish committees that oversee fundraising, property maintenance and safety, ensuring that its charitable activities complement broader parish priorities. While the site does not describe formal grant application procedures, the council clearly acts as a small discretionary funder, channeling donations from members and events toward local charities, schools, parish projects and student bursaries.