Shinerama Highlights

1961 Student leaders at Waterloo Lutheran University (now Sir Wilfrid Laurier University) looked for a way to have fun and help others during Orientation Week. A student suggests shining shoes in exchange for donations. Shinerama is born and raises $1,300 for a local school for the mentally challenged.

1964 Parents of children with cystic fibrosis in Waterloo (Ontario) tell the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) about Shinerama's success. They challenge the Foundation to make Shinerama a CF fundraiser at other schools. Eight universities and colleges rise to the challenge and raise more than $9,000.

1971 Canadian celebrities hear about Shinerama! Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has his shoes shined. Superstar Bobby Orr's ice skates gleam!

1979 The 'International Year of the Child' holds special meaning for Shinerama students. They redouble their efforts to help thousands of Canadian children with cystic fibrosis.

1986 Mila Mulroney, the Foundation’s Honourary Director, receives the first, official 'shine' of the 1986 Shinerama campaign at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo (Ontario).

1988 Shinerama celebrates its 25th as a national CCFF fundraiser! Broadcaster Knowlton Nash lends his support to the campaign and recognizes the hard work of student volunteers since 1964.

1993 Shinerama students from the University of Western Ontario in London (Ontario) raise an unprecedented $117,000 for CF research! Shinerama raises $675,000 – its best campaign ever!

1994 TV station, MuchMusic, agrees to plug Shinerama and the cystic fibrosis cause during September.

1997 The first-ever Shiner draw takes place to thank students for participating in Shinerama. First prize is a flight for two to Europe donated by Royal Airlines! Sponsors Pizza Pizza and Kiwi Canada donate other great prizes.

1998 Rocket Richard gets his shoes shined at Nipissing University (Ontario). Singer Chantal Kreviazuk draws the winning Shinerific Draw ticket at the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton).

1999 Shinerama turns 35

2002 Shinerama breaks all fundraising records – raising more than $840,000. Zellers becomes an official supplier donating gift certificates to schools for car wash supplies. Media sponsor MuchMusic sends VJ Amanda Walsh to Ottawa Shinerama campaigns.

2003 Shinerama welcomes a record number of students and schools – raising almost $952,000. It breaks the record for the largest object shined – a Canadian warship. The honour for the highest amount raised by a single school goes to Wilfrid Laurier University – $177,000.

2004 Shinerama turns 40. It grabs national media attention – with over 5.6 million impressions in newspapers Canada-wide.

2005 After a hiatus of several years, Shinerama returns to Quebec with campaigns at McGill University and Bishop’s University. They help the campaign gross more than $920,640, its second highest total ever.

2006 Another record breaking year – $965,371

2007 Shinerama celebrates with a record-breaking year with more than $985,000 raised at 65 schools across Canada, an all time high on both counts! Also marked the first ever blue and orange RV on an across Canada summer tour to promote Shinerama and CF awareness. The students from the University of Western Ontario (aka Epic Pull) raised more than $50,000!

2008 Students from Canadore College and Nipissing University create the largest Shinerama banner, which hung under the local overpass for the month of September in North Bay. Several new schools joined Shinerama for the first time helping the 2008 campaign raise $953,000 for cystic fibrosis research and care.

2009 Shinerama turns 45!

Check out the Shinerama website for more Shinerama info!