Hockey’s a popular sport throughout Northern Ontario, but finding the gear to outfit would-be Jonathan Cheechoos isn’t always easy.
The OPP, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service and Source for Sports aims to make a difference, at least in a few remote First Nations communities. Together the three organizations have collected a mini mountain of equipment, ranging from sticks and pads to gloves and helmets, and plan to distribute it to places in need in the coming weeks.
OPP Const. Diana Cole said the goal is to help bring communities closer together, and said the program, which initiated in Timmins a year ago, was launched in conjunction with a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
Keeping northern youth busy, as it’s been proven countless times across the country, is one way to ensure they stay on the right path, Cole said.
“If you get the kids playing hockey, they’re not out on the streets, and it’s all a positive, positive thing to do,” Cole said.
NAPS Sgt. Jackie George said the need in northern communities such as Atiwapiskat is well documented.
“We have 35 communities spanning between the Manitoba border and the James Bay coast. And a good portion of those communities do have indoor arenas and a lot have outdoor arenas as well,” she said.
“Without being in the city where there are a lot of recreational resources available, hockey and other organized sports are so important for the kids to be involved in.
“Any chance that we get to be able to supply equipment to those recreational teams is amazing,” she said.
Like Cole, George said finding positive outlets for children improves everyone’s lives.
“It’s always beneficial for the youth to be involved in organized sports, not just for keeping young minds occupied. It gives a positive learning experience for the youth in a team environment. We have officers who like to coach the youth and it bridges the gap between police and youth, so there are a lot of benefits.”
Vicki Slater is the office manager at Dave Wilson’s Source for Sports in Thunder Bay. She said her store, along with several others in Northern Ontario, held a used-equipment drive in August and September. The support they received was overwhelming.
“It’s quite the collection,” she said, standing in front of a Ministry of Transportation garage where the equipment has been temporarily housed.
“As a retailer it’s very helpful for people who have used equipment sitting in their basement. If you can’t get rid of it, just come on board and we can find somebody that can use it,” said Slater, whose store also donated a selection of equipment from their own stock.
Dryden OPP, through a southern Ontario donation, also helped the cause, contributing a significant amount of gear to the collection.
