Dear Editor,
I believe that minor hockey is much more than learning how to skate, how to score a goal, or how to stop a puck.
Minor hockey and other community-based sports are where children gain social skills through interactions with teammates and coaches, learn how to work together, to play by the rules, how to deal with adversity and how to be sportsmanlike, win or lose.
Minor sports are where families from west Richmond meet families from Hamilton and families who live on blueberry farms meet families who live in shiny new highrises. It is where connections are made and a sense of belonging and community is established. It is where we gain understanding and establish life-long friendships.
In late December, I met with a Richmond Minor Hockey Association mom who told me that she is concerned about the cost of hockey. She cautioned her son that he may not be able to play hockey next season because she may not be able to afford it.
His response was, “Cut ANYTHING but don’t cut hockey!”
She explained that playing minor hockey has given her son confidence, both on and off the ice. Minor hockey has been his entry into our community and it is how he became part of Canadian society. For him, minor hockey is simply the best!
I hope you agree that we should do everything in our power to keep community sports programs accessible and low-barrier so that as many children and youth have an opportunity to participate as possible.
If you are a local business and can possibly help with a sponsorship or a donation, I want you to know that you may just make the difference for one or more of our families.
Your generosity may mean that hockey, or another sport, stays within reach and that a child is given an opportunity to “belong.”
I want to urge my friends and neighbours to embrace the idea that minor sports have tremendous potential to unite and enrich our beautiful and diverse city.
Please do whatever you can to help make that happen.
Carolyn Hart
President,
RICHMOND MINOR HOCKEY
