Sask. town receives $10K grant to promote diversity in hockey
Drake, Sask. has received $10,000 from the Kruger Big Assist Program for their work to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in the game of hockey in their community.
The Kruger Big Assist Program works to help keep Canadian kids on the ice and a part of the hockey family.
The town of Drake listed its population just under 200 back in 2016, but it has grown thanks to immigrant families from other countries and areas of Canada who have moved in.
“We’re seeing families from all over the world: Guatemala, Ukraine, South Africa, and lots of families from the Philippines,” said Brittany Smith, a local resident and teacher.
Smith noted that the local rink is the common place to hang out for almost every family.
“The rink is really the hub of our community from October until March. We don’t have any restaurants, we don’t have a gas station, we don’t even have a post office anymore,” said Smith. “So the rink really is the place to go.”
The town wanted its newcomer families to experience life at the rink and get involved with hockey but knew the cost could play a role in whether or not they try the sport, so they sought the help of The Kruger Big Assist Program.
“We have so many diverse people moving to town and our minor hockey association was struggling to get members so I applied for it,” said Smith.
Drake is one of 15 communities across Canada to receive the $10,000 grant.
With ties to Mallard, Man. and the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, former Olympian and now National Hockey League (NHL) scout, Brigette Lacquette, wanted to get involved with the program.
“It’s about making hockey more accessible to families and this money goes a long way,” said Lacquette. “I want to encourage kids from all backgrounds to play hockey and make it more inclusive.”
Lacquette made history as the first female Indigenous hockey player to play for Team Canada at the Olympics and became the first female Indigenous NHL scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s about breaking down barriers such as racism. I didn’t have that person in my sport before me and being able to be that person it honestly warms my heart,” said Lacquette.
The money from Kruger Big Assist will help cover the minor hockey fees next season and Drake hopes to be able to use some of the funds to cover equipment costs for those trying out the sport.
“It supports us perfectly of getting those people of diverse programs and bringing them together with a love of hockey, and a love of community, and inclusion,” said Smith.
You can find out more about Kruger Big Assist on its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.