Aiming for a goal
P.E.I. RCMP officer in Labrador helps bring back hockey, raises money for equipment
An RCMP officer from P.E.I. has helped bring back hockey to a remote community in northern Labrador.
Now, he’s part of a big fundraising effort to make sure all children in the impoverished area can take part.
Const. Dylan Bergmark, from St. Andrew’s Pond, P.E.I., has been posted to Hopedale, N.L., since August 2019.
Armed with a sump pump, a shovel and an axe, Bergmark has turned a nearby pond into a community project where family and friends
gather and even take the occasional shot at the Mountie in net.
Part of this community project is raising money through a Go Fund Me campaign to outfit as many children as possible in the poor community with skates.
“When I came to the community, see, I’m a big hockey guy,’’ Bergmark said. “I just wanted to be part of the community, so I’d visit the school; do whatever the kids did at the gym; learned some crafts. But, then COVID hit and the gym shut down.’’
The school has about 150 students. It remained open, but adults were not allowed in. Not being able to take part in activities indoors, Bergmark felt his connection to the community was slipping.
The only way to meet people now is at the community store where he will greet the occasional person he happens to know.
“You go into the store with your mask on and you nod to people who you recognize. Otherwise, there is no way to meet anybody or have a conversation.’’
The constable then started to think about getting an outdoor rink going since public health restrictions aren’t as strict outside. He talked to his fellow officers, and they picked up their shovels.
“I’m not a master ice crafter, but I can work a shovel,’’ he chuckled.
One day after they had created the ice surface people could play on, Bergmark dropped by and noticed there were already kids skating on it.
“That made me smile,’’ he said.
Even if Bergmark and his partners are in uniform, they will stop and play with the kids. Bergmark tends goal.
However, Bergmark noticed something else. He quickly realized the same kids were coming out to skate every day because they were the only ones with skates.
A Facebook page was launched where a number of people started asking if anyone had a spare pair of skates.
“So, we ended up compiling a list of everyone who needed skates ... and the sizes they needed.’’
The local store doesn’t sell skates and even if it did, most of the residents wouldn’t be able to afford them.
Francesca Gregory and her husband, David, from Sturgeon, P.E.I., jumped in and decided to create a Go Fund Me page.
“David and I have known Dylan his whole life and remember him at an early age skating at local ponds and the Montague rink,’’ said Francesca Gregory, who is one of many people who helped get the fundraising drive off the ground.
“His passion for playing hockey and his enthusiasm to work with the community is infectious. It makes it easy to want to pitch in and help the kids get on the ice.’’
Genevieve Loughlin of Charlottetown is another one of Bergmark’s friends who was inspired to help out when she heard of his idea.
“Our aim is to raise (enough money) to anyone who wants can join in on the fun,’’ Loughlin said. “They need skates, sticks, pads ... everything.’’
Donations have come in from as far away as Texas and Maine.
The initial goal was to raise $5,000 to purchase 50 pairs of skates. The campaign has raised $5,800 so far, but more money is needed. Bergmark estimates they now need 70 pairs of skates, so donations are still being accepted.
Bergmark describes the Hopedale community, estimated to have a population between 600 and 700 people, as being a hockey-mad area.
Not many of the residents have cable or can afford satellite TV, so a Facebook group constantly posts NHL scores each night.
“I see Montreal Canadiens’ towels hanging in the windows, some with the Boston Bruins colours and a little bit of Toronto in there. And everyone is wearing a T-shirt or a hat with a team logo on it.’’