PRHC to add Smilezones
Liftlock Atom hockey tourney donates $25K to project to transform hospital’s pediatrics outpatient clinic
The organizers of the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament are living up to their motto “It’s not just a hockey tournament, it’s a community affair.”
To celebrate their 60th anniversary tournament organizers have taken on a special project to help bring smiles to children visiting the pediatrics outpatient clinic at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
PLAHT officials presented a cheque for $25,000 to the PRHC Foundation which will be matched by the Smilezone Foundation during a press conference Wednesday at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame.
The funds will be used to create Smilezone areas for the 20,000 children who annually attend the PRHC pediatrics outpatient clinic. They will decorate the waiting and treatment rooms in children’s themes and supply them with electronic games and activities to make the visits more comfortable and less stressful.
PLAHT director Don Smith learned about Smilezone, created by former NHL player Adam Graves and associate Scott Bachly, from a feature on Rogers Hometown Hockey. He thought it was the perfect project for PLAHT to consider. Smith said the late Jack Guerin, a long-time PLAHT director, taught him to view the tournament as more than just hockey.
“Jack Guerin was a visionary,” Smith said. “Jack alway said it can’t just be about putting on a hockey tournament. Periodically, you have to do things to benefit the community. When PRHC was built Jack was the first one to say we’ll commit money to it. When the Evinrude Centre was being built he said we’ll commit money. He felt the tournament needed to be visible in more ways than just the hockey tournament. That’s why we have a charity of choice every year.”
The charity of choice for 2018 is the Pedal For Hope. Smilezone is a special project to augment 60th anniversary celebrations.
“We work in children’s treatment centres and hospitals across Ontario to renovate those spaces to make them more kid-friendly, bright inviting and inclusive really just a better place for kids to be,” said Jennifer Kouroupis, Smilezone special events and development co-ordinator.
Smilezone raises almost $500,000 annually through a golf tournament and 24-hour hockey tournament as well as additional funds through corporate partnerships. To date it has helped transform areas at 150 Ontario locations including Peterborough’s Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“We hope to incorporate themes of Peterborough and what the hockey tournament is trying to show young kids about community, friendship and camaraderie,” Kouroupis said. “Everything hockey stands for.”
Rebecca Hue ls, P RH C Foundation manager of community engagement, said the hospital and foundation are excited about the project.
“Going to the hospital is stressful for anyone but it is particularly stressful for small children,” Huels said.
“It’s an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar sounds, smells and people. You don’t really know what’s going on and of course you’re usually not feeling well. The generous support of the Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament and Smilezone Foundation is going to help change that. Not just in the waiting room but in the four treatment rooms.
“The plan is to completely transform the space into a cheerful oasis that offers our youngest patients and their families something positive to focus on, no matter their circumstances.”
She said the tournament is a community hallmark.
“Sixty years is an incredible milestone,” she said.
“It’s 60 years of creating positive self-esteem, promoting health and well being, the importance of teamwork and competition and participaction. Those are invaluable contributions to our community.
“There is little doubt you’ve had a tremendous impact on the lives of children not just locally but across the province. Now the legacy of that contribution over 60 years will have an even greater impact for thousands of kids across our region.”