Crossfield rallying to end Alberta's Hockeyville title drought
CBC
As voting wraps up on Saturday to crown the next Kraft Hockeyville, Crossfield is bidding to claim Alberta's first grand prize in more than a decade.
The town, which is roughly 50 km north of Calgary, is one of four finalists left in the annual competition, alongside Honeywood, Ontario, Saint-Boniface, Quebec, and Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.
Online voting started Friday morning. Whichever community has the highest tally by 3 p.m. MT on Saturday will claim $250,000 for arena upgrades and the chance to host an NHL pre-season game.
"Right now, the community is buzzing," said Jennifer Watson, president of the Crossfield Skating Club and an organizer of the Hockeyville bid.
"People are walking around with their Hockeyville T-shirts on. The school has the kids wearing Hockeyville T-shirts or wearing hockey jerseys ... It's pretty cool."
The community has temporarily changed the name of its Railway Street to Kraftville Street for the competition, said Crossfield Minor Hockey Association President Matt Chomistek.
"It's really hard to drive anywhere in Crossfield and not see some sign of our campaign," Chomistek said. "It's been really inspiring to see an entire town and our neighbouring towns get behind this."
Sylvan Lake is Alberta's only Kraft Hockeyville champion to date, capturing the title back in 2014 when the grand prize for arena upgrades was $100,000.
If the crown returns to Alberta this year, the prize money will go toward fixing up Crossfield's only indoor rink, the Pete Knight Memorial Arena.
The arena is used for hockey, figure skating, lacrosse, high school graduation and other community events.
"The Pete Knight Arena is truly the hub of the community. Being such a small town, we don't have a lot of large places where people can get together," said Chomistek.
"Many of us, especially if you have multiple kids in hockey, we end up there six days a week and love every minute of it. That's sort of where we get to see our kids grow up and develop as people."
The community plans to use the prize money to make the rink more accessible for wheelchair users, by adding automatic doors and a safe seating area.
"There's been skaters whose family members are in wheelchairs that haven't been able to come to the arena to watch their grandchildren skate or access the stands," said Watson. "Even for able-bodied people, they're very difficult to step up into and not safe for kids."
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
While their investigation continues, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in St. John's has lifted the shelter in place order for residents in the area of Thorburn Road.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the southwest region of New Brunswick.
Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre faced the critical glare of the mega-popular Radio-Canada talk show Tout le monde en parle on Sunday in an attempt to woo francophone viewers, with the Liberal leader being pressed on his cultural awareness of the province and his Conservative rival differentiating himself against perceptions in Quebec he is a "mini-Trump."
Corey Perry had a goal and an assist, Connor McDavid had two assists and the Edmonton Oilers beat Winnipeg 4-1 on Sunday night, hours after the Jets wrapped up their first Presidents' Trophy as NHL regular-season leader.
Alberta's child and youth advocate is concerned that a new advisory position in her office could weaken her office's autonomy and potentially endanger children.
A six-year-old girl is dead and two other children are in hospital following a hit-and-run collision in Surrey's Fraser Heights neighbourhood Sunday afternoon.
A political scientist says Pierre Poilievre's open resentment toward offshore tax havens and corporate jets likely isn't enough to sever his Conservative Party's relationship with business leaders.
The Kamloops, B.C., school district may cut nearly 80 staff positions as it faces a $5.79-million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year, according to preliminary figures.
Some Holland College students say they're disappointed by the school's program cuts, but remain hopeful of a solution.
Visitors to the Liberal campaign office in Calgary East are greeted by a smiling picture of one of the longest-serving Conservative MPs.
Sunday is the last day the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool will be open — a place where Yellowknifers have been able to swim, soak and steam for nearly 37 years. The daughter of the building's namesake said she'll probably mark the day by visiting the space, shedding a tear and taking some photos.
Two Liberal Party staffers attended last week's Canada Strong and Free Networking (CSFN) Conference where they planted buttons that used Trump-style language and highlighted division within the Conservative Party.
George Fernandez's nephew, Gian Mabborang, says his uncle was a hard-working man who did all he could to provide for his family, especially his 15-year-old cousin, Fernandez's daughter, Margarette.