First Annual Business/youth Pool Tournament in Potton
On Saturday evening, April 28 the Missisquoi North Volunteer Centre (CABMN) Youth Program held its First Annual Business/youth Pool Tournament at the Youth Centre with nine teams taking part. The event was organized by Eleanor Cote, Coordinator of Communication and Youth Services for the CABMN.
“In the beginning of the planning it was hard to get businesses to commit,” shared Cote. “Once a few started showing interests, others quickly followed.”
Often the first year event is the hardest to initiate but the years that follow bring more and more involvement and that is the hope for this wonderful event. Businesses represented on Saturday included: Giroux and Giroux(rona), Garage JF Giroux, Familiprix Pharmacy, Excavation Stanley Mierzwinski(esm), Hatley(little Blue House), Nexkemia Petrochemicals, Epicerie Jacques Ducharme(richelieu), Paul St.onge Transport/snow removal and Bistro Chouette.
Each business picked a name from a hat of the youth with whom it was paired. Youth participants ranged in ages from 11 to 19 years old and the teams were then in a triple elimination battle for the winning prize. The winning business, along with bragging rights received a plaque to be placed in their establishment until next year’s rematch. The winning youth received a cash prize of $50.00. Door prizes were provided by Sherbrooke cinema, Nexkemia Petrochemicals and the Youth Centre. The funding for this initiative was made possible through a
donation from the Petits Hiboux de Potton.
From start to finish, the event was lively, fun, upbeat, exciting and joyous. The business owners, many of whom had attended the youth centre programs themselves some 25 years ago, were excellent coaches for the youth in the skill and concentration needed when playing pool. Tips, tricks and constant encouragement were the norm as each business high fived their partner and shook hands after a match, win or lose.
The youth spent less time on their devices and more time exchanging and enjoying face to face communication and fun. Judges for the tournament were long-time youth centre volunteers, Julia (Joe) Hastings and Real Forget and Eleanor Cote did the scorekeeping. The kitchen was “manned” by Jessie lee Johnson and Jason Ball who are both members of the CABMN Former Youth Involvement (FYI) committee.
During the event participants enjoyed a large screen viewing of the youth dropin of 1994 where many of the business owners present appeared as teens enjoying the youth centre much as the youth do now. At the end of the evening, a short movie had been prepared of the actual event, accompanied by music for all to enjoy while some teasing was exchanged.
The winning business and youth team were Allan Guilbault owner of the Bistro Chouette and his partner, 11 year old SADD member, Kate Eldridge who had never played pool much at all until the tournament. The team faced off against Brenda Clark (Nexkemia) and her partner, Kimberly Charby who had both played extraordinarily well all evening.
The Youth Centre staff and volunteers are looking forward to next year’s Second Annual Business/youth Pool Tournament and are hoping for an even bigger turnout. For more information about the CABMN youth programs visit: www.cabmn.org and subscribe to their weekly electronic newsletter.