Ottawa non-profit running cross-country outdoor rink contest
A new contest began this week to support outdoor community rinks across the country, and the volunteers who help keep them going could win as well.
The Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association (CARHA), along with their partner, iPlayHockey, launched a contest on Jan. 17 to help with costs associated with keeping outdoor rinks in municipalities and backyards running.
"With the pause in hockey within the past couple of years, as a team we thought, 'What can we do to help support the community and the game we love?'" said Kristan Leach, program development coordinator for CARHA.
"We came up with the initiative to launch the outdoor rink community campaign, which one local municipality will win $1,000 towards their ODR for next season," Leach said.
CARHA is a non-profit organization, providing hockey development programs to help grow the game.
Meeting in Spencerville Friday morning, Leach says for small communities like it, the volunteer-run rink is an important community hub.
"People can get outside, they can enjoy it, but that $1,000 towards a small local community for their outdoor rink can go a long way," she said.
Carter Seeley goes for a skate around the outdoor rink in Spencerville, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Members of the Spencerville & District Optimist Club volunteer to look after the town's rink, like Brian Purcell.
"It's just an asset that you've got to keep people active and get them out in the wintertime enjoying the outside," Purcell said.
He says if they win, the money could be used immediately.
"We just spent about $1,500 this year on replacing some rink boards and if you look around here, we've got about four or five or maybe half a dozen that needs to be replaced next year," Purcell said.
"So we're looking at already next year close to $1,500 again. There are always ongoing costs."
The CARHA is also accepting nominations of volunteers like Purcell, that help keep outdoor rinks running.
"We're asking people to send in pictures, a little bit of a write-up, maybe what rink they are working on and we're going to put together a bunch of prizes with about $500 value," Leach said.
"It doesn't go unnoticed, and without them we wouldn't have these outdoor rinks today," she added. "They are the ones out during day and night endlessly to make sure the rinks are in tip-top shape."
The Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association has launched an outdoor rink contest to support local rinks. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Purcell, who also coaches Timbits Minor Hockey, says the contest is a great shoutout to communities and all the hard-core volunteers.
"There are a lot of kids that come out, they aren't registered and active in the (indoor) rink, but they try it out here," said Purcell. "We've had hockey players and figure skaters out here, whether it's a little warmer or freezing cold they are out using the rink."
"I say to my little kids in Timbit hockey, the more you're skating, the better you're going to get and you see that unfold when kids have the access to things like this," he added.
The contest is open to any municipal or personal rink across Canada that is open to the public. It runs until March 11.
"We're hoping for great success," Leach added. "We've had great feedback as of right now, lots of entries coming in, and keep an eye online, (rinks and volunteers) will be featured as well and the winner will be announced at the end of March."
The form to nominate a local outdoor rink or volunteer can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.