Cambridge councillor helps pair Captain Canuck with United Way

Captain Canuck is coming to the rescue for local charities.

Ward 7 councillor Scott Hamilton has helped facilitate a partnership between the Canadian comic book superhero and United Way Waterloo Region Communities.

The agreement saw Lev Gleason Publications and COMIC HOUSE of Toronto help with the design of limited edition t-shirts being sold through the ‘Heroes Unite Us!’ campaign. All proceeds are being donated to local charities.

Hamilton met the creator of Captain Canuck, Richard Comely, at Galt’s first mini comic-convention hosted by Retro Rocket Comics in August. From there, the relationship evolved and the idea was born.

“United Way WRC and Captain Canuck both celebrate and represent the power that Canadians from all backgrounds and walks of life have, when we come together and collaborate to address social challenges and overcome adversity,” Hamilton, who also serves as the senior director of philanthropy at United Way WRC, said in a press release.

"This t-shirt sends a message that, in challenging times, heroes unite us. We can all be heroes when we work together to help others. And there’s no hero more Canadian than Captain Canuck.” 

When it was released in 1975, Captain Canuck became the first full-colour superhero comic book to be published in Canada and distributed in the USA since World War II.

The t-shirts design resembles the ‘Captain Canuck Club Member’ logo popularized in the late-1970s and early-1980s and is meant to represent a connected community.

“Despite the social crises we are seeing in our streets, from a lack of affordable and supportive housing, to mental health afflictions, food insecurity, gender-based violence, and much else, Captain Canuck and United Way are united in the knowledge that by working together, our combined efforts can help our local charitable organizations and neighbours in need to create a better community,” Joan Fisk, CEO of United Way WRC, said.

"When we help each other, and when we help our community, we become superheroes.”

For more information on the campaign and to purchase a t-shirt visit unitedwaywrc.ca/captaincanuck.