News Release
North End Halifax Rink Wins National Media Attention
(Friday, February 14/2003)-- A neighborhood skating rink in north end Halifax is getting some new boards-and national media attention.
When north end resident Diane Elbourne learned about a national essay contest about community skating rinks, she decided to enter. Ms. Elbourne was notified recently that her essay was chosen from more than 350 entries across Canada.
Sponsored by the CBC, Home Depot and Go For Green, a national non-profit organization which promotes recreation and physical activity which enhances the environment , the contest was advertised on "Hockey Night In Canada" from early November to January 15. To enter, individuals had to submit a 250 word essay about why they should have an outdoor rink and the impact it would have on their community.
The Grand Prize was an outdoor ice rink. In the case of the north end community rink, it meant a set of boards to go around half the Highland Park School's existing tennis court, on which the ice surface has been created. On Wednesday of this week community volunteers and Home Depot's volunteers installed the boards.
Tomorrow (Saturday, February 15th), from 11:00 am to 1:00 PM, there will be a ceremony to mark the occasion and the CBC will be taping it, to be broadcast later in the evening during the intermission of one of the National Hockey League games. The media are welcome to attend.
Mayor Peter Kelly, on behalf of Halifax Regional Council, extended congratulations to the many volunteers who have devoted their time and effort to building and maintaining the north end rink for the past two years.
Mayor Kelly said "Through the dedication and commitment of these volunteers, families in the north end community have been able to enjoy the benefit of having their own skating and hockey rink. Building, maintaining and managing an outdoor rink takes a lot of time and effort, and it is sometimes not the most comfortable of tasks on those dark winter nights, when the temperatures are dipping well below zero. We're proud that their story will be told on national television, especially thanks to Ms. Elbourne."
North End Councillor Jerry Blumenthal said "The volunteers in the north end community can serve as a model to our communities and neighborhoods across the country. They have shown that with good community spirit and by neighbours working side-by-side, any neighbourhood can create its own facilities to allow families to participate in, and enjoy, outdoor activities. Healthy, outdoor exercise can be the winning recipe for a strong, healthy community."
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Diane Elbourne
Volunteer, North End Community Rink
(902) 455-0098
Lori Patterson
Corporate Communications Office
(902) 490-6531
