Today, thirty West Shore teens got to meet hockey legend and former Vancouver Canuck, Kirk McLean, as part of the Hockey4Youth program.
Hockey4Youth provides free ice hockey training with support from Canucks for Kids Foundation, as a way to foster social inclusion for youth of all genders who are newcomers to the area or sidelined by circumstances.
Learning a sport, getting a jersey, being part of a team, receiving encouragement from coaches – these are things not all kids get to experience. Not to mention meeting a hockey legend like Kirk McLean!
These West Shore youth have been participating in the Hockey4Youth program for the last several months as part of the City of Colwood’s work to support the safety, health, and success of youth with support from Public Safety Canada.
“Providing a range of opportunities for youth to learn life skills and build confidence is an investment in the future,” said Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi. “Today’s hockey event is just one example of the ways Colwood has been bringing partners together as we work toward creating a long term strategy to support the success of youth on the West Shore.”
The teens in the Hockey4Youth program have shown tremendous courage… joining the program, traveling to Vancouver to get geared up with skates and equipment, getting out on the ice, building a new skill, meeting new people, and learning from coaches.
This final event was a celebration of the achievements of these youth participants. Feedback from the kids, their parents, and their teachers is that the experience has had a profound impact on their confidence, their mood, and their sense of belonging within our community
The many supporting partners had smiles as big as the kids who participated: Hockey4Youth Director Nazim Hasham and Coach Megan Bouveur, West Shore RCMP's Constable and Coach Cole Brewer, Colwood Youth Engagement, West Shore Parks & Recreation, the Sooke School District, and the kids and parents who took part.
The City of Colwood was able to support West Shore youth in the Hockey4Youth program with funding from Public Safety Canada’s Building Safer Communities fund. Colwood was selected to receive the funding and has been working to foster the well-being and success of youth on the West Shore by hearing directly from youth, connecting local youth service providers in new ways, using space creatively, amplifying existing youth programs and piloting new initiatives.
Media contacts
City of Colwood - Sandra Russell, Manager of Communications
Phone: 778-677-5345 Email: srussell@colwood.ca
Canucks Organization - Rod Brathwaite, Manager of Minor Hockey and Alumni
Phone: 604.899.7770 Email: Rod.Brathwaite@canucks.com
Hockey4Youth - Moezine (Moe) Hasham, Executive Director and Founder
Phone: 416.994.4352 Email: moe@hockey4youth.org
Nazim Hasham, Director of Partnerships, Hockey4Youth
Phone: 604.716.4248 Email: nazim@hockey4youth.org
Coaching Staff
Megan Bouveur, Coach of West Shore and Victoria teams
Phone: 250.213.8663 Email: Megan.bouveur@my.liu.edu
West Shore RCMP
Constable Cole Brewer, Community & Indigenous Policing, (and on-ice support)
Phone: 250-474-8767 Email: cole.brewer@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Geoff Welham, Manager of Recreation
Phone: 250-474-8655 Email: gwelham@wspr.ca
School District 62
Sharon Beloin, District Principal, Safe Schools
Phone: 250-474-9889 Email: sbeloin@sd62.bc.ca
Find this release online at www.colwood.ca/News
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