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The real heroes of the game: 2010 RBC Local Hockey Leaders
announced
Unsung hockey volunteers to be recognized in the Hockey
Hall of Fame
TORONTO, May 10, 2010— RBC Insurance, with
support from Hockey Canada and the Hockey Hall of Fame, today
recognized Canada's most dedicated behind-the-scenes hockey
volunteers as part of the annual RBC Local Hockey Leaders®
program. This year's 14 winners - one representing each Hockey
Canada branch and an RBC employee winner - hail from Fort
Simpson, Northwest Territories to Durrell, Newfoundland &
Labrador.
"We're proud to celebrate these exceptional individuals
who generously give their time to enrich our nation's game
in communities from coast-to-coast," said Neil Skelding,
president and CEO of RBC Insurance. "Hockey means so
much to Canada and this is our opportunity to say thank you
to those who make it happen."
The 2010 RBC Local Hockey Leaders receive $10,000 towards
a registered hockey cause in their community and a signed
Team Canada jersey. The winners will also be flown to Toronto
for a special ceremony on June 16, where their efforts will
be recognized in a permanent display at the Hockey Hall of
Fame. In addition, each winner will be celebrated in their
hometown, as a banner recognizing their achievement will be
raised in their local arena.
2010 Regional RBC Local Hockey Leaders:
| Hockey Canada Branch |
RBC Local Hockey Leader |
Community |
| Hockey North |
Owen Rowe |
Fort Simpson, NT |
| BC Hockey |
Helga Steenhof |
Smithers, BC |
| Hockey Alberta |
Wanda Schuba |
Edmonton, AB |
| Saskatchewan Hockey Association |
Bob Fawcett |
Saskatoon, SK |
| Hockey Manitoba |
Mary Ellen Clark |
Neepawa, MB |
| Ontario Hockey Federation |
Steve Sanderson |
Plattsville, ON |
| Hockey Northwestern Ontario |
Doug Novak |
Kenora, ON |
| Ottawa District Hockey Association |
Gord Powell |
Almonte, ON |
| Hockey Quebec |
Peter Jacobs |
Kahnawake, QC |
| Hockey New Brunswick |
Marc Dube |
St-Andre, NB |
| Hockey Nova Scotia |
Steve Clayton |
Bridgetown, NS |
| Hockey PEI |
Joanne Wallace |
O'Leary, PEI |
| Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador |
Craig Clarke |
Durrell, NL |
| RBC's Own Local Hockey Leader |
Donna Taylor |
Craik, SK |
Full bios on the winners can be found at www.rbclocalhockeyleaders.com.
A panel including Neil Skelding, Olympic gold medalist Cheryl
Pounder, National Men's Sledge Hockey Team captain Jean Labonté,
hockey legend Ron Ellis, Hockey Canada chairman of the board
Ken Corbett and other Hockey Canada officials selected winners
from hundreds of nominations submitted through the program
website.
The RBC Local Hockey Leaders contest inspired hundreds of
nominations from cities and towns from all corners of the
country. Hard work, dependability, impact and leadership were
among the criteria considered during the evaluation of submissions.
"Volunteers are the lifeblood of Canadian hockey - without
them there would be no game, no place for children to live
their dreams, and RBC Insurance deserves a big thank you for
their support of these volunteers," said Bob Nicholson,
president and CEO of Hockey Canada. "The RBC Local Hockey
Leaders program has recognized more than 100 tremendous hockey
volunteers, giving more than 100 communities the opportunity
to better their hockey environments."
Over the past seven years, RBC Insurance has awarded more
than $700,000 to grassroots hockey initiatives across Canada
through the RBC Local Hockey Leaders program. Grants from
the 2009 RBC Local Hockey Leaders program went towards a new
score clock in Moosomin, SK; new goalie equipment in Grand
Falls-Windsor, NL; subsidizing travel expenses for a special
needs ice hockey tournament in St. Catharines, ON and many
other worthy initiatives.
For more information and biographies on all of the RBC Local
Hockey Leaders, please visit www.rbclocalhockeyleaders.com.
About RBC Insurance
RBC Insurance provides a wide range of life, health, travel,
home, auto and reinsurance products as well as creditor and
business insurance services to more than five million clients
in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. These products and
services are offered through a wide variety of distribution
channels, including the telephone, retail insurance branches,
independent brokers, travel agents, a proprietary sales force
and the Internet. More information is available at www.rbcinsurance.com.
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For further information, please contact:
Katie Hammill,
khammill@gotoguys.net, 416-603-9452
Margie McNeil,
RBC Insurance,
margie.mcneil@rbc.com, 905-606-1425
Kelly Masse,
Hockey Hall of Fame,
kmasse@hhof.com, 416-933-8212
Andre Brin,
Hockey Canada Communications,
abrin@hockeycanada.ca, 403-777-4557
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