Area sports: IceDogs team up with Special Olympics; CSG concert announced
The Niagara IceDogs, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Special Olympics Ontario, and the Niagara Regional Police Service are teaming up to help raise awareness about the importance of grassroots programming during Friday’s IceDogs home game versus the Barrie Colts.
The awareness campaign is part of the ongoing commitment and partnership with the Ontario Hockey League Niagara IceDogs and LETR/Special Olympics Ontario that has been happening since 2007 with the goal to raise awareness for more than 26,000 athletes across the province.
Since March 2020, Special Olympics athletes have been actively keeping busy through a range of virtual program offerings. Today, communities are making a return to in-person sports and programs. The OHL and LETR partners want to celebrate their return, and help raise awareness for an organization that changes the lives of many,” said Glenn MacDonell, President and CEO of Special Olympics Ontario/LETR.
“Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) thanks the Niagara Ice Dogs and Niagara Regional Police Service for their ongoing support of the movement. Since 2007, teams across the Ontario Hockey League have supported SOO with OHL Big Ticket Games which provide much needed funds and awareness to 26,000 athletes living in Ontario with intellectual disabilities. Together, we champion inclusion, acceptance and offer opportunities to many athletes in the Region to participate and thrive in sport.”
IceDogs general manager Joey Burke said the organization is proud to help support Special Olympics Ontario.
“The Special Olympics and its athletes embody exactly what we strive for here in Niagara, and the qualities and attributes they possess are exactly what we expect from our players,” Burke said. “The power of sport is a very special thing, and to be able to work in support with one of the best sporting organizations in the world is something we are truly lucky to be a part of.
“I am extremely excited for our organization to be hosting a Special Olympics Ontario game on November 12 and I am thrilled at the opportunity to share our great Meridian Centre with the country’s top young athletes, both on and off the ice. The power of sport truly shines through organizations like Special Olympics Ontario.”
Tickets for the game are still available, starting from $15.
For ticket information, visit http://www.niagaraicedogs.net or call the office at 905-687-3641.
SUMMER GAMES CELEBRATION
The Niagara 2022 Host Society is excited to announce a 200-Day-Out celebration concert featuring an all-Canadian line-up headlined by Tim Hicks with special guests Loverboy, POESY, and Jeremie Albino.
This concert, presented by GFL Environmental, will be called ‘Rise with Glowing Hearts’ and is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2022, at the Meridian Centre.
‘Rise with Glowing Hearts’ will celebrate the 200-day countdown to Niagara hosting our country’s largest multi-sport event, the Canada Games — which will begin with an Opening Ceremony at the Meridian Centre on August 6, 2022.
Presale tickets for ‘Rise with Glowing Hearts’ will be made available Wednesday, Nov. 10. Those interested in presale tickets must sign up for the Action N22 Newsletter to receive this exclusive offer. Later this week, tickets will then open up to the general public on Friday, November 12.
“I am over-the-moon excited and honoured to be headlining this show right in my hometown of St. Catharines,” Hicks said. “I can’t wait to hit the stage at the Meridian Centre and celebrate the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. It’s going to be so much fun!”
“We are thrilled to be bringing this exciting concert to the Niagara Region and to begin celebrating what will be a very special year for our community,” added Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. “Embodying words from our national anthem, Rise with Glowing Hearts encourages us all to come together in celebration as we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and look ahead to next year’s 2022 Canada Summer Games.”
Last Friday, the Niagara 2022 Host Society also announced the wide release of ‘Steel Heart’, which will serve as the anthem for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. ‘Steel Heart’ is a song written, produced and recorded by POESY.
Held every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the country’s marquee event for amateur sport representing the highest level of national competition for thousands of up-and-coming Canadian athletes. The 28th edition of the Canada Games will mark just the third occasion in the event’s history that it will have taken place in the province of Ontario and the first time in 21 years. In total, more than 5,000 participants and close to 4,500 volunteers are expected to take part in the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games scheduled for August 6-21, 2022.
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