Taber, Alta., wins Hockeyville; Tumbler Ridge named runner-up | CBC News
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Taber, Alta., has won this year’s Kraft Hockeyville contest, with Tumbler Ridge, B.C., coming in second place.
The southern Alberta town lost the use of its aging hockey arena after an explosion last December.
The annual contest sees communities across Canada win cash to fix up their local rinks, with the winner receiving a $250,000 grand prize and chance to host a pre-season NHL game. The runner-up will also receive $100,000 for rink upgrades.
In Tumbler Ridge, hundreds of residents poured into the community centre arena Saturday for a day-long watch party, filling the space with jerseys, signs and balloons ahead of the live announcement on Hockey Night in Canada.
Former NHL player Andrew Ference and Vancouver Canucks forward Chris Higgins also joined the events expressing strong hope that the northern B.C. community would win.
The community of about 2,400 is still recovering after eight people were killed by a shooter in February.
Daybreak North11:25Tumbler Ridge has hopes for Hockeyville
Daybreak talks with the person who nominated the community for the contest.
In the aftermath, the town’s community centre — which houses its arena, pool, library and several other amenities — became a sanctuary for residents.
It was a place to gather to grieve, see mental health counsellors and take part in activities privately, out of the international media spotlight.
Theresa Nevills, a retired Royal Canadian Air Force member from Vancouver Island, nominated Tumbler Ridge for the contest.
She called it a chance for Canadians to wrap Tumbler Ridge “in a big hug from all of Canada.”
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