ABOUT VICTORIA HOCKEY LEGACY SOCIETY
The Victoria Hockey Legacy Society was incorporated in February 2023. Our mission is to to support, promote, and host major sporting events in the Greater Victoria area. We want to bring our community together, support local charities and initiatives, leave a positive legacy, boost the local economy and shed Greater Victoria in a positive light.
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The Society’s first event was Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Victoria 2024, a community celebration that helped support more than 2,000 jobs and generated more than $600,000 in taxes.
We welcomed upwards of 20,000 people to Ship Point in Victoria’s Inner Harbour for a full day of festivities. The synthetic-ice rink was well used throughout the day, and the week preceding it, as were the three ball-hockey rinks on site.
Our region also received tremendous exposure across the country as Sportsnet’s 13-hour broadcast on Saturday was viewed by 8.5 million Canadians. At any moment, almost 800,000 people were tuned in to watch Canadian teams, while a panel featuring Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Jennifer Botterill, David Amber, Kevin Bieksa and others anchored the coverage from the Inner Harbour.
Hockey is more than a sport in Canada. It is the basis for so many communities in Greater Victoria, and that was on full display throughout all the planning and preparation and, of course, during the event itself. From the members of the local organizing committee, to the dozens of participating associations, businesses and organizations, we truly showed Canada how Victoria celebrates hockey!
Creating a lasting legacy
Interested in renting the ice for your festival, activity or event? Contact us for information.
We know Victoria’s warmer climate is not conducive to using natural ice, and we wanted to offer a traditional outdoor skating experience not only during Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada but also for years to come. That’s why we purchased the only synthetic ice approved by Hockey Canada, provided by CAN-ICE.
With a lifespan of eight to 12 years, the synthetic rink will find new uses in our region for future events, including 2025’s The Cup Returns
Supporting Local Charities
The Victoria Hockey Legacy Society believes in giving back. Our charity of choice for Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Victoria 2024 was the Courtnall Society for Mental Health. We were pleased to raise over $50,000 to support their programs and work.
We have also made a donation to the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame to improve their historical display in Save On Foods Memorial Centre.
Sophia Pugh, District Vice President, Vancouver Island for Scotiabank, presented Russ, Geoff and Bruce Courtnall with a cheque in support of the Courtnall Society for Mental Health during the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Victoria 2024 Banquet.
Promoting Community
We know hockey is more than a sport, it connects players to community, and skills and team building. During Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Victoria 2024 we were pleased to introduce youth from throughout Greater Victoria to the game of hockey in a safe and welcoming environment.
Programming was offered to a wide range of youth who have never played the game of Hockey to more experienced youth players of all abilities, including Indigenous youth, New Canadians and girls.
We reduced barriers to participation by providing free try-it clinics and activities, reducing or paying for registration costs for families who are experiencing financial difficulties, and provided resources (including equipment) for participants to continue developing life-long skills for ongoing participation in sport.
We forged partnerships with organizations to bring the SHDIC program to life: skills development clinics for youth from BC Hockey certified instructors and coaches, NHL alumni, and the Victoria Royals Hockey Club players and coaches.
A referee’s clinic, led by Sportsnet Host Ron McLean, was offered for youth referees and BC Hockey youth referees gained valuable experience by refereeing ice and ball hockey games.
We look forward to building on this legacy of community collaboration in future events.
Victoria Hockey Legacy Society Board of Directors
John Wilson
Co-Chair
Brenda MacFarlane
Co-Chair & Treasurer
Sophia Pugh
Secretary
Jim Zeeben
Director
Kyman Chan
Director
Joey Poljanowski
Director
Victoria Hockey Legacy Society
715 Station Avenue, Langford, B.C., V9B 4M1
We gratefully acknowledge that we work, live and play on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples — the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.