The first-ever Bulls and Bears Hockey Challenge Cup game featuring members from local RCMP detachments and the Olds Grizzlys ended up in a 10-10 tie on Nov. 16 at the Olds Sportsplex.
The charity hockey game was a fundraiser with proceeds going toward the Chinook Arch Victims Services Society, a police-based non-profit organization that provides support to victims of crime.
Fundraising results from donations at the door, concession sales and the silent auction are expected later this week.
Some of the work the society does includes crisis intervention, death notices to next of kin and providing referrals to appropriate support agencies.
Providing information that allows victims of crime to make sense of their situation is a hallmark of the organization.
“Sometimes they don't know where to turn for different things and that's what Victims Services does. We're a support, information and referral service,” said Michelle Waycott, the group's program co-ordinator.
“So often, we're dealing with victims that say, ‘we didn't even know you guys existed.' It's reassuring to them to know that they have somewhere to turn to give them the information to move forward.”
The society also accompanies victims and witnesses during court proceedings, telling them what to expect and acting as a liaison between them and the Crown prosecutor.
“We stick with them right from the incident right through the court process, which can take a long time, sometimes years. So we'll be there for them,” Waycott said.
For more than 15 years, Chinook Arch Victims Services has run out of the Olds, Didsbury and Sundre RCMP detachments. Each year, one of them holds a fundraiser and it was Olds' turn, Waycott said.
After some brainstorming, she said the charity hockey game idea was pitched to Staff Sgt. Joe Sangster. Soon, the Olds Grizzlys were involved.
“There's a lot of causes in town that we like to help out with any way we can,” said Brett Hopfe, the Grizzlys' head coach and director of hockey operations.
Waycott hopes this fundraiser will be held every two to three years.
Hopfe said he hopes people will notice that the Grizzlys are approachable and available for community service in town.
“All it is, is a phone call to the office, or to myself to see if we can help out and we always try our best to do that,” he said.
“To help people as much as we can, that's the point of having this team here.”
