Wickenheiser Jumpstart celebration

Times Reporter 

 

Four-time Canada Olympic Women’s hockey gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser is coming to Strathmore Canadian Tire on Aug. 30 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The appearance is a part of the celebrations for the store’s second place finish in the Red Ball campaign nation-wide. Labrador City, NL took first place.

The Jumpstart program assists less fortunate kids between the ages of 4 to 18 in registration, gear and transportation costs for sports.

Through the campaign, the Strathmore store raised $14,108 in May for the Jumpstart program. 

“We sold red balls in our store for the month of May. We put a challenge out to the business community to donate to it as well and that paid off,” said Shelley Orford, owner of the Canadian Tire along with her husband Randy. 

From 2005 to 2014, the Strathmore chapter has dispersed $51,384, which has helped 373 kids to get the opportunity in sports.

According to Orford, Strathmore should be proud of what has been accomplished.

“For the town, mostly it is a recognition for their support in the Jumpstart,” said Orford

With well-known Canadian hockey player Wickenheiser coming to town, it is very rewarding to the store.

“We are very honoured and excited to have her. We worked hard to finish second in the Red Ball campaign and we are delighted to bring her here,” said Orford.

Orford said it was thanks to community effort that the Strathmore store was able to finish second in the Red Ball campaign. 

“We were trying to get in the number one spot for the last three years so to come in second out of 400 stores in the country is pretty exciting.”

Wickenheiser will be available for autograph sessions and will be playing in a street hockey game with players from the Strathmore Minor Hockey Association in the Canadian Tire parking lot on Aug. 30.