The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Beginning Monday, March 1, Flin Flon residents can walk, drive or skate pre-loved hockey equipment to their local Ford dealer to support a used hockey equipment drive for local youth. The program is being run in aid of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation - the Great One's charitable organization dedicated to providing youth throughout North America with the opportunity to experience hockey. Thanks to the resounding success of last year's campaign, the 2004 Ford Dealers' Hockey Equipment Drive has been expanded to run for an extra month. During March and April, Northland Ford Sales Ltd. is accepting donations of good quality, used hockey equipment for local youth in need. The equipment drive runs at participating Ford and Ford Lincoln dealers in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. "We're excited to be working with Wayne and his foundation again this year on this wonderful initiative to bring hockey to children who wouldn't otherwise be able to play the game," said Anne Krysowaty, dealer principal, Northland Ford Sales Ltd. "We had a tremendous response to the event last year from the people of Flin Flon and I'm sure this year will be even better." All equipment provided in safe, working condition is welcome. Some of the most needed pieces of equipment include: children's skates, helmets, sticks, goalie equipment and gloves. The dealership will work with its partner, Sport Manitoba - KidSport, to distribute donated equipment to local youth in need. Upon completion of the program, Esporta Wash Systems - an official supplier to Hockey Canada and the leader in providing cleaning solutions for sports equipment - will again provide free washing and sorting of the collected items. Esporta's four-stage wet cleaning process ensures the equipment is safe for its new owner. "There are so many kids who love the game of hockey but will never have the chance to play," said Gretzky. "Hockey is expensive - the equipment, the ice time, the practices all cost moneyÉ money some families just don't have. That's why we created the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. With the support of our partners, Ford of Canada and the Canadian Ford Dealers, we will strive to ensure that every child who wants to play hockey is able to do so." Ford of Canada and the Canadian Ford Dealer Association announced their sponsorship of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation in January of 2003 and ran the inaugural equipment drive in March the same year in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The 2003 campaign collected over 850 pairs of skates, 580 pairs of gloves, 450 helmets and countless pads, sticks, pucks, bags and other miscellaneous pieces of clothing and equipment for less fortunate youth in communities across Canada.
