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A Huge Thank You
A Pleasant Problem
Hockey equipment for children in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut
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| (posted Jan 2009) |
A Huge Thank You on behalf of the association, its parents and kids!
 Grâce au commanditaire RE/MAX Riviera 2000 Realty Inc. et la participation exceptionnelle de 132 joueurs, le tournoi d’hockey du carnaval d’Embrun aura permis d’ammaser des fonds d’une valeur total de $1250.00 qui sera distribué comme ceci : Association du Hockey Mineur d’Embrun($500), Association des Loisirs($500) et au Panth_res d’Embrun Junior C($250). Sur la photo, rangée du haut, dans l’ordre habituel, on reconnait Daniel Piché, agent immobilier de RE/MAX, Roland Desjardins, président du Hockey Mineur et Mario Savage, représentant des joueurs au tournoi d’hockey. Sur la rangée du bas, on reconnait Normand Séguin, co-propri_taire des Panthères Junior C et Brigitte Brisson, présidente de l’Association des Loisirs.
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| (posted Sep 2009) |
With the help of the community, a sum of $3251 has been raised for the Emnrun Minor Hockey Association.
A total of 136 young hockey players took part in a conditioning program organized by Denis Raymond. He was assisted by volunteers Nadine Gagon, Chantal Crispin, Steve Williams and Chantal Orieux, as well as referees and parents.
"I would never have imagined that it would be this successful," says Raymond. "The support of the community is incredible. It is really encouraging and we will do this again next year."
The only hitch is that there was too much demand. In order to choose participants from among 450 players, draws were held for each category. "It is frustrating because we wanted to please everyone. For next year, we will look at another format to ensure nobody is left out." The result exceeded organizers' goal of $2000.
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| (posted Dec 2008) |
Embrun and Russell assist with efforts to bring hockey equipment to children in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut
A huge thank you is in order for donations of used hockey equipment by many hockey families in Embrun and Russell for the kids in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. A special thank you goes out to the Embrun Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) for their major contribution. This is an amazing story that all started with the efforts of one person.
In late October 2008, I received an email through work at the Assembly of First Nations requesting used hockey equipment. The email came from Beverly Mulligan of the Ottawa Police east division. She was assisting her friend, Constable Louise Lafleur, who initiated a project to collect used hockey equipment for kids in the northern Village of Qikiqtarjuaq in Nunavut. It started as a competition within the police headquarters to see who could collect the most equipment. However, word quickly spread by email well beyond the police force.
Constable Lafleur is on a two-year posting in the small northern hamlet on secondment with the Nunavut RCMP. She had made arrangements with two airlines to transport the equipment for free so this was a wonderful opportunity to help out the kids in the community. Especially since Qikiqtarjuaq has a natural ice arena.
Both of my children play hockey - one with the Embrun Minor Hockey Association and the other with the Russell and District Girls Hockey Association. Since this request had to do with hockey and kids, it was something I really wanted to be a part of. I figured if we had some used hockey gear then chances were that a lot of other hockey families in Embrun and Russell would have some too. So, I too sent out a request by email to all the people I knew in the local hockey community and asked if anyone had any used hockey gear to spare for the kids. I needed to collect it by November 14 in order for Beverly to prepare for the shipment to Qikiqtarjuaq.
The response was incredible! I started to receive a few things from individual families and it just kept coming. Then on November 13, I received a message from Mr. Clyde Carrière of the Embrun Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) that they had some old jerseys to donate. That was great news. I figured that there might be a full set of jerseys for one team or maybe two sets if I was lucky. I agreed to meet the EMHA Equipment Manager, Mr. Don Smith, at the Embrun Arena to pick up the jerseys. When I arrived there I thanked him for the jerseys and he said to me, "We’re just getting started." By the time he had everything together I had enough stuff to fill up my truck twice! There was about 8 heavy duty garbage bags full of jerseys, two boxes, and about 10 sets of old goalie equipment. I was completely overwhelmed and just didn’t know what to say or how on earth I was going to get this stuff home with my little car. Thankfully there was some helpful hockey Dads around to fill a large van to the rafters and then move it all into my garage.
The next morning I headed off to the Ottawa Police 10th Line Station in Orleans with our truck filled up to the max and another load still sitting in our garage. When I arrived at the station I was met by Beverly Mulligan and we loaded the hockey gear into a 64 foot trailer they had in the parking lot. This initiative had taken off across the city via a flurry of emails and there was now so much equipment that they needed this huge trailer to store everything.
After returning to Embrun for the second load of hockey gear and dropping that off with Bev, I thanked her for the efforts that she put into organizing this initiative along with Constable Lafleur. It really is amazing how a couple of individuals can make a difference and I’m sure the kids in the North will be thrilled when the gear starts to arrive.
As of November 20th the gear collected includes 92 hockey bags stuffed to capacity with equipment, 200 sticks, 345 pairs of skates, well over 2000 hockey jerseys and a wall of goalie pads that stretches 12 feet long and three feet high. There are also socks, pucks, tape and other items.
The skates and helmets are the first items to be airlifted to Iqaluit before the busy holiday rush. From there it will make its way to Qikiqtarjuaq and on to other communities as well. A committee has been created in the community to help distribute and organize the equipment and also to plan ice time. Shipping was donated by Canadian North and First Air. The remaining equipment will be sent by air and sealift in the coming weeks. There were contributions from many places including other hockey associations, Play It Again Sports, Royal LePage Realty, Atco Structures and others.
For the people in Embrun and Russell that assisted with donations or with helping me get the equipment home, thank you again and know that you have been part of a much bigger initiative that will bring the love of hockey to some deserving kids.
Thanks again to all that donated.
By: Tracy Tarnowski
Check out story on CBC.CA
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