Halifax will play host to another huge fundraising event for Haiti next weekend — and this time it will centre on our national pastime.
Hockey Day for Haiti, set to take place on Feb. 21 at the Halifax Metro Centre, will feature a full day of on- and off-ice activities, organizers announced Thursday. Donations to the Canadian Red Cross will be encouraged throughout the festivities in support of the organization’s ongoing relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
“This will be a wonderful event,” said Canadian Red Cross representative Gavin Giles. “I can’t think of a better combination, and I’m so proud to be involved in it.”
The day will kick off at 2 p.m. with the Halifax Mooseheads hitting the ice to play the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in a regular, ticketed event. After that, the doors will open up to the general public for a free family skate at 5:15 p.m., followed by on-ice demonstrations, a “dryer shootout” in honour of local hockey hero Sidney Crosby and a “mascot hockey game.”
At 8 p.m., massive screens will be rolled out and the audience will be treated to a live broadcast of the Canadian men’s hockey team taking on the United States at the Vancouver Olympics.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for us to connect with the national Olympic movement, all while supporting an extremely worthy cause,” said Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of Trade Centre Ltd.
Ferguson added he hopes everyone will wear at least one item of red clothing to the event in support of both Team Canada and the Red Cross.
Last week, a major concert event dubbed Halifax for Haiti drew thousands to the Metro Centre’s main arena and raised $135,000 in support of relief efforts in Haiti, which was brought to its knees by a massive earthquake on Jan. 12.
Details online
For more details on the event, head to www.halifaxmetrocentre.com
