In William's Corner: Benefitting Kingsway Boxing

With the sudden passing of William De Nino, so many of you have reached out to ask how you can help and where you can donate. As a family, upon reflection we decided on the foundation laid by our fathers, Bruno and Carmen, who started Olympic Trophies with a deep sense of community and a commitment to always give back. Those values shaped everything we have done and continue to guide us today.

For more than 15 years, William and Olympic Trophies have been part of the Kingsway Boxing Club and the Fight To End Cancer family. Together Leo and William were proud and generous supporters of Jen and her gym, contributing to countless galas, fundraisers, and community initiatives. Through their involvement, Olympic Trophies became more than a business — it became a bridge between family, community, and the causes closest to their hearts.

Following the fire at Kingsway Boxing in mid-August, our family felt it was important that William’s legacy and the vision passed down from our fathers — be honoured by helping to rebuild the gym he was so proud to support. This effort is more than just restoring a space; it is a way to carry forward the generosity, community spirit, and love of giving back that defined William’s life, and has always been at the heart of our family’s story. As a friend said yesterday, "After 3 decades of knowing Will, he was always the one to bring people together and create new and lasting friendships. May we keep profiting from a lifetime of friends from knowing Will."

A Legacy That Continues to Give Back

At the entrance of Kingsway Boxing will be a memorial to William — a tribute to his generosity, spirit, and the lasting impact he made on countless lives. It will stand as inspiration for future generations to carry those same values forward. Contributions made through this memorial will help Kingsway Boxing continue his tradition of giving back and making a meaningful impact on the community for decades to come.

For those wishing to honour William’s memory, donations can be made directly to the Kingsway Boxing rebuild fund — ensuring that his legacy of giving back continues to strengthen the community he loved so deeply.

Kingsway Boxing Family Rebuilding Stronger Together

For over 20 years, Kingsway Boxing Club has been a pillar of The Kingsway community — a family-owned business led by Jennifer Huggins and Virgil Barrow. From its roots as a local gym to its role on the international Olympic boxing stage, Kingsway Boxing has always been more than just a place to train. The club is home to hundreds of athletes, from children stepping into the ring for the first time to national champions preparing for international competition. It has hosted national sport training camps, built programming that supports youth and families, and created opportunities for all levels of the community to come together. Through its Fight To End Cancer initiative, Kingsway Boxing has also raised over $4 million in support of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, alongside countless hours of free programming, mentorship, and outreach.

Photo (Left to Right): William, Tamara, and Leo at the Fight To End Cancer Gala. Since its inception in 2011, Olympic Trophies has proudly provided the awards for all sponsors, ambassadors, and competitors of the event.

Photo Description: Leo De Nino accepts the FTEC Belt on behalf of Olympic Trophies at the 2025 Fight To End Cancer. The presentation was made by Founder Jennifer Huggins and Inspector Paul Krawczyk, Unit Commander of the Integrated Gun & Gang Task Force.

Photo: Jacob De Nino pictured in the centre ring the day before the fire during Kingsway Boxing Club's youth boxing camp.

Photo Description: The Summer Boxing Camp included an array of training and special guests utilizing their strength studio, Fire & Ice Studio and boxing facilities.

That is why the fire in mid-August was so devastating. The state-of-the-art facility — only just built in January of this year as the new home for the club — was fully engulfed in flames, leaving behind heavy damage to what had become both a hub for the local boxing community and a national centre for training and development. In an instant, a home built over decades of effort, sacrifice, and support was torn apart.

Photo Description: The fire caused the most devastation in the strength studio and to the electrical systems that ran through the ceiling above, impacting the entire gym. However, much of the overall facility damage came from the efforts to contain the blaze — the sprinkler system and fire hoses left more than a foot of water throughout the nearly 8,000-square-foot facility.

Yet in the face of this tragedy, the Kingsway Boxing Family has shown what resilience truly looks like. In the wake of both challenge and loss, the community has come together with strength and compassion — qualities that echo the spirit of William De Nino, whose legacy continues to inspire all who knew him.

Thanks to the incredible hands-on support of athletes, parents, coaches, neighbours, and local businesses, the gym has never felt stronger. Together, the community is not just rebuilding, but rebuilding better — honouring William’s memory by carrying forward the values of generosity, perseverance, and service that he embodied. Through Olympic Trophies, William and his family were not only generous supporters of Kingsway Boxing but also highly invested in sport locally and across the nation. Their contributions touched athletes at every level — from grassroots programs in neighbourhood gyms to national competitions where champions are made. Olympic Trophies became a symbol of pride and recognition for countless athletes, representing the same spirit of commitment and excellence that William lived by.

The progress since the fire has been nothing short of inspiring. Thanks to the generosity of countless individuals, families, and businesses, many of the gym’s walls are already back up and the rebuild is moving forward at lightning speed. From donations of materials and equipment to the countless hours of time and expertise offered, every contribution has played a vital role in helping preserve the heart of the gym during this transition. Even the smallest details, like storage bins, have made a big difference in keeping the process organized and allowing Kingsway Boxing to push ahead.

Rebuilding our facility comes with significant costs, and unfortunately, these far exceed what insurance will cover. We’re working hard to raise the additional funds needed to complete the repairs and restore our gym fully. That’s where this KBC Rebuild Fundraising Page comes in. Every donation, no matter the size, goes directly toward rebuilding our home and ensuring we can continue to provide a safe, supportive, and inspiring space for all of our members.

“William believed deeply in the power of community and giving back through sport. As we rebuild, every contribution made in his memory strengthens not only our gym but the values he lived by. This isn’t just about bricks and walls — it’s about carrying forward the spirit of generosity and resilience that William embodied.” ~ Jennifer Huggins

Despite the devastation, Kingsway Boxing’s operations have hardly missed a beat. Classes resumed at the Norseman location almost immediately, and the energy inside the gym has been electric. A temporary weight area has been set up to keep athletes training without interruption, while work continues on rebuilding the front half of the gym. With the unwavering support of the community, the goal is to see new and improved spaces ready within weeks — an ambitious target made possible only by the collective determination of the KBC Family.

There is still a road ahead. Kingsway Boxing continues to call on the strength of its community through its upcoming Rebuild Fundraising Auction and by welcoming volunteers at the Taste of The Kingsway festival, where boxing lessons and demos will keep the club connected and thriving.

Every effort, every donation, and every show of support carries the memory of William De Nino forward. His deep sense of community and generosity live on in the way Kingsway Boxing continues to rise — stronger together, and determined to honour his legacy through every step of the rebuild.