Memories for a lifetime
Party planned for O’Leary’s Hockeyville volunteers
There were memories made during O’Leary’s journey to Kraft Hockeyville 2017 that will last a lifetime, suggests O’Leary resident, Judy MacIsaac. MacIsaac, a member of a committee recently formed to throw a party for the members of the organizing committee – referred to as the Fab 5 – and the hundreds of volunteers who made the journey a successful one, said she met many people who were just thrilled to be part of the celebration.
“That’s what I liked about it, just the excitement it brought to the community,” she said. “I’d suspect kids will talk about it for years.”
The idea of a wrap-up party to acknowledge the volunteers who made it all possible started floating on the Hockeyville Helpers Facebook page long before the stars arrived for the final piece of O’Leary’s prize package, the Winning Weekend celebration in O’Leary Sept. 23 to 25 and the Sept. 25 NHL exhibition game in Summerside. As of Monday, the Facebook page still had more than 21,000 members.
“It was so much fun. It was an absolute blast,” said MacIsaac of the overall Hockeyville experience. The O’Leary Community Sports Centre received a $100,000 prize for arena upgrades as well as the proceeds from Hockeyville weekend celebrations and merchandise sales.
Other members of the Kraft Hockeyville Community Appreciation Night committee, which is chaired by Nancy McMillan, are Thelma Sweet, Marjorie MacKay, Allan Butler, Bethany MacIsaac and O’Leary Mayor Eric Gavin.
The Town of O’Leary, as well as area businesses, are helping to sponsor this Sunday’s party.
There is so much to celebrate, said MacIsaac, thinking back to all the fun volunteers had during online voting parties in March, the party that was already in progress the night O’Leary made it to the Hockeyville Top 10, and the big celebration leading up to the announcement of O’Leary as Kraft Hockeyville 2017 on April 1.
The appreciation night, which will include a special presentation to the committee that launched O’Leary’s drive to Hockeyville – the Fab Five – Dean Getson, Tammy Rix, Joanne Wallace, Della Sweet and Bill MacKendrick, entertainment headed up by Cory Gallant, speeches and finger foods, gets underway at the O’Leary Legion at 6 p.m. Oct. 22. The event is open to all ages.