For the second straight year, Sault resident Brandon Schmidt is honouring his late papa this week by performing acts of kindness across the area.
Schmidt’s papa is Jim McAuley, an established community figure, philanthropist, and businessman who passed away on Nov. 21, 2020 – five days after his 84th birthday.
“He was the male role model in my life," Schmidt says. “This week is always really tough on me with his birthday and his passing all being in a six-day span.”
To suggest McAuley was a community builder would be heavily understated.
He played a vital role in bringing the Soo Greyhounds into the Ontario Hockey Association (now the OHL) in 1972, and he served as the Soo Greyhounds president for nearly two decades.
Over the years, McAuley made financial contributions to many local institutions like the hospital, Sault College, and Algoma University, and he was an active member of the Kiwanis Club for over 50 years.
“He was super involved with countless charities,” Schmidt says. “He always wanted to make this town the best place possible to live since that’s where he had all his business and where his kids were. He just loved to invest in Sault Ste. Marie.”
“I got thinking about what things my grandpa was passionate about, and how I could make an impact in those settings,” he adds.
To commemorate the second anniversary of his papa’s passing, Schmidt has been giving back to the community in a variety of capacities and sharing his experiences on social media.
At Wednesday night’s Greyhound game, Schmidt met a young hockey fan during warmups and made her day when he surprised her with a brand-new hoodie from the Hound Pound.
“Her smile was infectious, and her excitement was unmatched,” he said in a social media post. “Only problem was that she didn’t have on any fan gear. Well now she does and she’s wearing it proudly.”
The next day, Schmidt offered his appreciation to his Aurora’s Westside co-workers with personalized cups and cards.
“These girls have all become friends of mine as they ask me about my day and tell me about theirs,” his post reads. “They keep me informed about their interests and accomplishments, and simply put, make showing up to work something to look forward to each day.”
His co-worker Randi Belkosky says the Aurora’s crew was incredibly touched that he thought of them.
“It was extremely nice that Brandon personalized the cup and card for each employee,” she says. “He also took the time to speak to us about how he appreciates what we do and how we are professional in our roles. Sometimes just a little bit of recognition can mean so much.”
Even while standing in line at Dollarama on Saturday, Schmidt wanted to help a family after overhearing a mom who was unable to purchase an item that her daughter wanted, telling her to add it to her Christmas list.
Recognizing the holidays can be tough for families financially, Schmidt stepped in and paid for the item, leaving the mother in tears.
“She said, ‘You see this every now and then but never think it will happen to you. We’ve been struggling a lot lately and you don’t know how much this helps,’” Schmidt recounts. “I think I needed them as much as they needed me.”
In addition to these acts of kindness, Schmidt has organized a food and clothing drive which has received a lot of involvement on social media.
He has also made donations to several charities and community organizations across town, including the Alzheimer’s Society, the Humane Society, the Dragonfly Shop, the Soup Kitchen, and the Sault College women’s hockey team – all causes that were special to Schmidt’s papa.
Brianne Shunock, the head coach of the women’s hockey team, first met Schmidt when she played hockey with his younger brother at the Soo Pee Wee Arena.
It’s safe to say Schmidt and his grandfather have left a resounding impact on the head coach.
“Their grandfather, Jim, was an avid hockey fan, and I’ll never forget how welcoming he was to me, as the only female on the team,” she says. “Growing up, I was aware of Jim’s involvement throughout the community, and when he passed, I know it was hard for a lot of people, not just his immediate family.”
“Our team was surprised to hear that he wanted to give us a donation, and the players are already thinking of a fun way to use the donation to further bond as a team,” she adds. “I know his grandfather would be so proud of him for continuing the legacy.”
After McAuley passed away, an inheritance was left behind for his grandkids, which Schmidt intends to use for the greater good of the community.
“In my mind, I did nothing to earn that money,” he says. “I’m going to enjoy some of it at some point, but I just know he would’ve made a lot of charitable contributions with those funds had he still been here. I just feel it’s something I should do to carry on his legacy.”
Schmidt says his social media posts from his acts of kindness helps him cope with this challenging time of year, and he’s already looking forward to continuing the tradition in future years to come.
“He’d probably tell me that he’s proud of me,” he says. “He always liked to acknowledge good deeds that we did, and when his friends would come up to him to talk highly about his grandkids, he’d love it.”