The Pond Hockey Portal!
Proud to be Canadian Mayor Judy St. Peter and Mike Allen, Tobique-Mactaquac MP, officially raise the Canadian flag at the Plaster Rock Welcome Centre to celebrate Canada's 141st birthday. (Mark Rickard photo) "It is communities like this little community that make Canada the greatest country in the world," Mayor St. Peter told the 75 people who attended July 12 celebrations at the Plaster Rock Welcome Centre.
The mayor spoke out about the service reductions that recently occurred at Tobique Valley Hospital and she urged residents to not give up hope.
"Don't give up on Plaster Rock, we are going to continue to try to get emergency services back in our hospital," she stated to enthusiastic applause. "We are going to do everything that we can to find the doctors that are needed."
Mayor St. Peter said the success of the World Pond Hockey Championship shows the community spirit and the volunteer ambition within the community.
Mike Allen, Tobique-Mactaquac MP, wished every Canadian a happy 141st birthday.
"The reason we are such a strong country is because we are knit together from a fabric of small communities. The small rural communities are what built this country. We always need to remember that."
Allen urged everyone to thank the men and women in uniform who now serve their country, and Canada's veterans, for helping to forge a great nation.
"You look at pond hockey, you look at all the great things that you have undertaken, this is a place that can make things happen. Happy Canada Day," he concluded.
John Sharkey, director of recreation, parks and leisure, announced a Canada Day Certificate of Merit to the Tobique Seniors Club and Canada Day Youth Awards to Jared Braun and Emily Paris.
"The year the certificate of merit is presented to the Tobique Seniors Club. The club was formed about three years ago and is very instrumental in many activities throughout Plaster Rock. It is a strong organization that is very eager to participate," Sharkey commented.
The Tobique Seniors Club has hosted the valley winter senior games for several years, and is a testament to the perseverance of local seniors.
"They deserve a great round of applause for their community-minded efforts. They have also been instrumental is using the new Tobiqueplex walking track to walk across Canada."
The seniors have now walked across Canada and are on the return leg in Ontario. Government funding has recently allowed the club to purchase carpet bowling equipment, which Chuck Gray, Tobique Senior Club president, promised will be put to good use.
"We are asking everyone that is interested to learn how to carpet bowl, come along with us…. We have had great community support from the village for our seniors club. I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of my club."
Mayor Judy St. Peter and Mike Allen presented a Canada Day Youth Award to Jared Braun. A recent graduate of Tobique Valley Middle High School, Braun plans to attend UNB in the fall. He is a dedicated minor hockey official, a veteran World Pond hockey Championship monitor, assisted with coaching Tobique Valley Minor Hockey as a goaltending coach, and worked with junior high students in their physical education program as part of his coop studies. Jared played golf and hockey in high school.
Emily Paris, another TVMHS graduate, was the class salutatorian. Paris was very involved in student council since grade six, and is currently working three summer jobs. She had volunteered to help with seniors' health care and volunteered with Dr. Lillian Linton in her optometry office. Parish played volleyball and basketball in high school.
If you thought a visit from the prime minister was impressive, wait until you see who's coming to World Pond Hockey next year.
Although the names haven't been confirmed, Danny Braun, chief administrative officer for the Village of Plaster Rock, said some "big celebrities" will be attending the World Pond Hockey Championship in February 2009. Plaster Rock will be part of Hockey Day in Canada to be broadcast on CBC and, because of that, the dates of the championship have been changed.
"We're going to be going with Feb. 19 to 22," Braun noted during the Plaster Rock village council meeting on June 16. "It should be a really big weekend for us."
Braun noted two producers from the CBC met with him last month to talk about Plaster Rock's role in the Hockey Day in Canada broadcast. Officially, New Brunswick is the host for the show but, as a host community needs at least 90 hotel rooms for the crew, Plaster Rock will share the honors with another community.
Braun added the draw was held June 9 to select World Pond Hockey teams for the 2009 championship. All Canadian provinces as well as the Northwest Territories will be represented along with 20 United States and 13 countries. Newcomers this year will include Spain and Brazil.
In addition to the Hockey Day in Canada representatives, Braun is hopeful several ex-NHL players will be among the team members making the pilgrimage to Plaster Rock.
Braun noted the volunteer appreciation evening for pond hockey volunteers was held on May 31 and was well attended. The golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 16.
CDs featuring highlights of the 2008 World Pond Hockey Championship were distributed during the volunteer appreciation evening and copies are also available for $5 at the Plaster Rock Save-Easy.
