An arena full of fans is what coordinators of Flin Flon’s Hockeyville nomination are hoping for this weekend as they prepare photos and a video that could lead to a huge prize for the beloved Whitney Forum.
“There’s so much hockey love in this community – it’s worth a shot,” says Leanna Campbell, of her decision to coordinate Flin Flon’s nomination package for the contest.
Towns and cities across Canada can nominate their hometown arenas for Kraft Hockeyville by using images and video to tell a compelling story.
The winning entry will receive $100,000 in arena upgrades and the chance to host an NHL preseason game. The
second–place winner will also receive $100,000 in arena upgrades, and the eight remaining finalists will receive $25,000 each to upgrade their arenas.
This weekend, Campbell is inviting the whole community to participate in Flin Flon’s nomination process.
“We want to fill the ice and possibly one side of the stands with as many people as we can,” she said.
Anyone wanting to support the nomination by being part of the photo and video shoot is asked to come to the Whitney Forum at 4:30 pm this Sunday, Jan. 17.
Campbell is encouraging locals to bring their skates and don hockey jerseys, especially Flin Flon Bomber clothing and colours.
The group photoshoot will be followed by a free public skate from 5 to 6:15 pm, which will also be filmed. The skate is being sponsored by the City of Flin Flon.
Cameras will also be at the Bombers game tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 16, shooting footage of the game and the crowd and capturing Flin Flon’s unique game night experience.
Campbell says the nomination film will highlight Flin Flon’s thriving community of hockey players and fans, its rich history in the sport and will likely explore how the prize money could support the community groups that use the Whitney Forum, from oldtimers’ hockey leagues to figureskaters and Bombers fans.
She said she has already heard from a number of people interested in getting involved, and three local videographers have volunteered to create the nomination film.
“I have people phoning and messaging, and we hit over 200 likes in less than 24 hours on our Facebook page,” Campbell said.
So if the community wins one of the top two prizes, what kind of upgrades might we see at the Whitney Forum? While Campbell says it is hard to say what is most urgent at this point, improving wheelchair accessibility and creating storage and meeting spaces in the building are features that would enhance the arena’s utility.
An up-to-date communications system would also be useful, Campbell says. Building maintenance and repairs may rank highly on the wish list as well.
While the contest prizes are big motivators, Camp-bell says the project has its own rewards. “If we don’t make it that’s fine…it’s just fun to see how much hockey means to Flin Flon.”
Anyone wishing to submit photos, video footage or anecdotes to the nomination committee can email them to [email protected] or visit the Flin Flon Kraft Hockeyville page on Facebook.
At Sunday’s photoshoot, parents will be asked to sign permission waivers for their children to appear in the film.
