INNISFAIL – It was a night of hope and love for Innisfail’s Gresos family.
And it was all centred around the rough and tumble world of professional wrestling at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104.
On June 16 it was that time of the month in Innisfail for a professional wrestling show brought by Calgary-based CanAm Wrestling.
It was another hit with up 180 grappling fans showing up in the auditorium; an especially good turnout considering it was opening night for the 62nd annual Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo.
But June 16 was an especially important night for CanAm. It was a benefit evening for the family of Grace Gresos who lost their dream home in the Hazelwood Estates subdivision on May 16 to a devastating fire.
The community stepped up huge since then to support Grace, who for years has worked tirelessly for the community in her role as chairperson of the Phil-Can Neighbourhood Association of Innisfail.
But wrestling night on June 16 was more than just grappling. The event was highlighted to help and support the Gresos family.
For every ticket sold at the show (about 180) CanAm gave $5 to Grace and her family.
And on June 21 senior CanAm officials were back in town to give Grace and her husband Arsenio $520 cash.
That was not all. The lucky 50/50 winner at the wrestling show gave all of his $236 winnings to the family.
“This is overwhelming. I don’t expect this. I know the good deeds of CanAm is amazing,” said Grace, whose family is temporarily moving into two four-plexes on the east side of town.
Since the devastating fire that destroyed her family’s dream home last month family members have been staying with friends.
Grace said she expects it will take at least nine months to a year before her Hazelwood Estates house is rebuilt.
“I would like to thank the whole team and management of CanAm for this overwhelming support and love and kindness that they gave to my family,” said Grace.
Ed Andersen, chief financial officer for CanAm Wrestling, said the donation to the Gresos family is just one important gesture his organization does in all the communities they serve and entertain.
“What we do is help all communities, depending on what the situation is. We help kids in communities with disabilities. If they can’t afford it (wrestling show) they can come. We will let them in for free,” said Andersen.
“We’re here for the community. We are here for the fans. Our motto is, ‘one show at a time and we will get there in the long run.”
Otto Gentile, CanAm’s chief executive officer, said he was extremely pleased with the benefit night on June 16, but wished he could have done even more for the Gresos family.
“We were up against the rodeo and a baseball game, so I think we did pretty good,” said Gentile. “This is what we try to do anywhere and everywhere we go. That's our goal. We enjoy doing it.
“It's not for the exposure,” added Gentile. “It's to help people that help us because without them we would be nothing. If we didn't have the fans supporting us, where would we be?”
As for the Innisfail legion and its members, they are pleased to see the success of wrestling in town since last summer and how well CanAm is connecting with the community.
“We’re pleased, very pleased. They have been here since last August; one night a month for the last eight months, and it looks like they're going to continue on at least for this year, and bigger and better,” said Don Harrison, chair of the legion’s entertainment committee. “They give a lot back to the community, and that has shown with the Gresos family and their loss in the fire.
“And they’ve brought young people down to their mini-camp in Calgary, so they're really promoting professional wrestling in this community.”
