The Envision Counselling and Support Centre benefitted from the support of a local minor hockey team.
Members of the 2016-17 Estevan Westmoreland peewee AA Bruins turned their team fines for last season into a donation that will make a big difference to people in southeast Saskatchewan.
Players from the team presented a donation for $363 to Envision on Nov. 20. The team was comprised of players from the southeast, just as Envision has offices in four locations in the southeast.
Throughout the course of the season last year, the players were fined for infractions such as forgetting their socks or missing a practice.
“We are so pleased to be the recipient of a donation from a hockey team made up of young men,” said Tania Andrist, the resource development co-ordinator for Envision. “This team chose a charity that works with families and youth, and tries to improve lives in our many rural communities in our region.”
Last year, the peewee AA Bruins drew players from locations such as Redvers, Manor, Bienfait, Carnduff and Estevan, among other communities.
“When they made the donation, we were able to say a few words to the boys regarding Envision and what we’re about,” said Andrist. “They’re at the age where they’re starting to get into dating, so we talked a bit about healthy relationships and healthy choices.”
She also handed them bracelets and paperwork about positive and negative traits found in relationships, and how the players can identify potential problems in relationships.
“I think it’s think important that because they are hockey players, and they tend to be looked up to by other kids, they’re in a position where they’re a little more educated about what it means to be in a good, healthy relationship,” said Andrist. “Then they spread it out among their friends as well.”
By making a donation to an organization like Envision, Andrist said the players are showing an awareness of others who may be struggling with relationships or family crisis.
The money raised by the hockey team will be directed towards Envision’s programming efforts, most likely the outreach education efforts, since Envision goes to the different communities in the southeast to talk to young people about healthy relationships.
The peewee AA Bruins had a good year on the ice, as they reached the final of the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League against Swift Current. And the donation shows they had a good year off the ice as well.
