Every year, RCMP officers from across the province hit the ice for sports charities in need, and this time around it's Cold Lake's turn.
After being accepted to host the "K"Division Red Coats for Kids RCMP Hockey Tournament, Cst. Jeremy Willis of the Cold Lake detachment got to work organizing the event benefitting the local KidSport group. It's scheduled to take place at Imperial Oil Place Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
“It's a non-profit annual event hosted by a different town or city throughout Alberta. It’s been running for a few decades now, and it brings over 100-plus active serving RCMP officers from across the province to participate in the tournament with the goal of raising money for a local youths' sports charity," he said during a presentation to the City of Cold Lake council on Tuesday, Oct. 23.
Willis felt Cold Lake was a perfect location for the 2019 event because of the facilities, local accommodations, and other businesses in the area.
“It gives participants an opportunity to explore the City of Cold Lake and see what we have to offer, and see the city as a potential tourist destination,” Willis added.
The event will bring over 100 members and their families to Cold Lake, all with the goal in mind of getting together for a cause.
The tournament itself is funded through entry fees from participants, with all proceeds going towards the organization of choice. This year, they selected KidSport Cold Lake.
Willis said, "KidSport Canada is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to kids aged 18 and under."
The 2018 tournament was hosted in Airdrie, and resulted in nearly $10,000 being donated to their charity.
They're hoping to see the same result locally.
“The objective is to keep the costs as low as possible to ensure we’re able to make a large donation to the charity of our choice,” Willis noted.
This was why they were approaching the city in hopes of reducing their ice rental and lounge fees.
“I’m here today to ask for some assistance from the City of Cold Lake for a rate reduction on both our ice time at the Cold Lake Energy Centre from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, and access to the lounge area for the daytime throughout the tournament,” Willis explained.
The tournament doesn't only come at a benefit to the organization, the possible fans, or the players.
“There are some things that could benefit the city. We’re bringing 100 participants from across the province to Cold Lake (who will be) using local facilities and businesses during their time here."
Not only that, he continued, but it gives current members a chance to see what the local detachment has to offer.
“From an RCMP detachment perspective, it gives those 100 officers a chance to see what Cold Lake is all about, and maybe get them considering a transfer here, because we are having a hard time getting veteran officers to come this far. We get a lot of new guys, so this tournament is a chance for them to look and see what we’re all about,” he expressed.
The public is invited to head to the rink throughout the tournament in order to watch the games, he added.
Willis concluded, “Any support from the City of Cold Lake would be greatly appreciated by all participants, and it would help us make the tournament a success and allow us to make the best contribution to the cause."
The city will bring the opportunity back up to the table for further discussion at a later meeting.
