Community Supports Sports with Every Kid Every Community Event

Emily Mailhot

Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

On February 2nd, the Vegreville Minor Hockey Association, KidSport Vegreville, and the Alberta Hockey Foundation partnered together to put on a fun fundraising event for all.

Following the usual program for community fundraisers, there was a dinner catered by Twisted Sisters Kitchen, with a live and silent auction with the exciting addition of the Every Kid, Every Community speaker series.

Alongside the series’ Rob Brown and Jason Strudwick, local ex-professional players Zenith Komarniski and Scott Langkow joined in the speaker series to share stories about coaches, teammates, embarrassing moments, and pranks that had the audience roaring with laughter.

Tim Leer of the Hockey Alberta Foundation said that they partner with 3 communities per year for the series, to bring NHL celebrities to town for an evening of fun and fundraising. “We’ve never been to Vegreville,” said Leer, “And we haven’t been to North East Alberta in a long time, so it was time for a visit.”

Leer also expressed that KidSport’s Jerrold Lemko’s long-time volunteer involvement with the Association was another deciding factor in choosing the Vegreville community.

“All I did was connect the players,” Lemko Humbly stated. “I’ve known Tim Leer for a long time through Hockey Alberta, so all I did was connect VMHA and the foundation and they took care of the rest.”

From KidSport’s perspective, the theme of “Every Kid, Every Community” fit in well with their mandate to ensure that all children have the chance to participate in local team sports. “KidSport is fortunate to be tied to this event.” Said chair Roy Mills, “Any funds we can raise in the community goes back into the community so that kids can play.”

Coming back from a very bleak volunteer situation a few years ago, KidSport chair Roy Mills and the volunteers have since added “bright yellow” to the vibrant tapestry of Vegreville’s volunteer organizations. “we’re just working hard to give kids that opportunity they may not otherwise have.”

Mike van der Torre of VMHA said that they couldn’t have asked for better for their main fundraiser. Because of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, there was no cost to VMHA for the event and KidSport, VMHA, and HAF split the funds at the end. “It’s everything we need to do to keep costs down, expenses covered, and supply equipment.”

Before the event, hours and hours split between many volunteers helped to prepare everything from raffle tickets, to decorations. About 150 guests out of the 160 they planned for attended the event. The Vegreville Agricultural Society worked the bar for the event, and members of the Bantam Wranglers hockey team did coat check at the door.

Live auction items included a Rob Brown game-worn All Star jersey, which Rob Brown autographed personally for the winner of the bid. A handcrafted chair made from hockey sticks by the amazing Peyton Kalbfleisch, who in spite of countless challenges with his health has been able to continue focusing his passion for the sport by using old hockey sticks to make furniture, went for $550. First to eat and waitress service were auctioned off before the meal by Jaimeson Brown, emcee for the event.

There were raffles and a silent auction for many hockey-themed and otherwise novelty items donated by local businesses and individuals. The 50/50 draw had a take-home of $485.