Newsletter Canuck Place Family Skate at General Motors Place ABOVE: Ryan Johnson holds a young child from Canuck Place on the players bench. Darcy Hordichuk high fives a Canuck Place patient at the annual Canuck Place Skate. Fin has his teeth inspected. Darcy and young faris enjoy some ice time together. On January 17, more than 100 children, family members, staff and volunteers from Canuck Place Children s Hospice took to the ice at General Motors Place for the Canuck Place Family Skate. Joining them were Vancouver Canuck players Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk as well as Canucks mascot, Fin. The Canuck Place Family Skate is an annual event that brings together Canuck players and Canuck Place families. Canuck Place Children s Hospice offers specialized pediatric palliative care to over 350 children with life-threatening illnesses and their families across BC. SUPER Presented By SKILLS Canucks for Kids Fund Superskills The Vancouver Canucks put on a great show at this year s Canucks for Kids Fund Superskills presented by McDonalds, featuring the hardest shot, fastest skater, accuracy shooting, power play, a breakaway relay and a puck control relay. Canucks fans were also treated to autographs from Fin, face painting, a Canucks alumni scrimmage, and photos with the Stanley Cup. clockwise from left: Superskills is a family affair. Kevin Bieksa takes to the ice with his young son Cole. Mats Sundin meets with young hockey players from North Vancouver who fundraised for Superskills. Mason Raymond and a young pee wee player from the Comox Valley Chiefs get ready for Superskills. Mason Raymond, Ryan Kesler, and Darcy Hordichuk search for the most enthusiastic fans. The Canucks partnered with BC Hockey s Comox Valley Chiefs, a Pee Wee team from Vancouver Island. Mason Raymond had a pair of goals and Roberto Luongo stood his ground to give Team White a thrilling 17-16 win to defend its crown. Canucks for Kids Fund Superskills raised over $125,000 and will support beneficiaries including Ronald McDonald House British Columbia, KidSport BC, the NHLPA s Goals & Dreams Fund and the Luc Bourdon Memorial Fund.
Canucks players give back at 10th annual Dice & Ice Benefit clockwise from top left: Willie Mitchell and guests at the funny money casino. Gina and Roberto Luongo enjoy the 10th Annual Dice & Ice Benefit hosted by the Canucks for Kids Fund. left to right: Jannick Hansen, Alex Edler, Mason Raymond, and Steve Bernier. The boys are given their acting assignments for the rookie show. Mats Sundin entertains at his black jack table. Alex Burrows gives Steve Bernier s performance a perfect ten. The Canucks for Kids Fund hosted its 10th Annual Canucks Dice & Ice Benefit, presented by HSBC, on February 5, 2009. This year s theme was Hockeywood, which featured the entire Vancouver Canucks roster, coaches and Canucks Alumni. Dice & Ice gives guests the opportunity to go head to head with Canucks players and coaches at blackjack, roulette, and poker. In addition to the mock casino, guests were treated to a first class dinner, silent & live auction, and a show hosted by Canucks Captain Roberto Luongo, featuring teammates Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond, Steve Bernier, and Alex Edler. The event raised over $250,000 which will be granted to Canuck Place Children s Hospice and BC Children s Hospital Foundation for the Centre for Research in Childhoold Diabetes.
Vancouver Canucks and kids with autism recognized World Autism Day at General Motors Place on April 2. Canucks Recognize World Autism Awareness Day On April 2nd the Vancouver Canucks and the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) were proud to recognize World Autism Awareness Day at General Motors Place. As the Canucks took on the Anaheim Ducks that night, fans at General Motors Place had the opportunity to learn about how CAN is making a difference in the lives of BC families living with autism. Limited-edition CAN t-shirts were sold in the Canucks Team Store with proceeds going to the Canucks Autism Network. For more information, please log onto www.canucksautism.ca First Strides for young minor hockey players at General Motors Place ABOVE: Fin encourages a young skater. Mason Raymond helps out with the skating drills. Mason Raymond takes some time with a young First Strides participant on the ice at General Motors Place. Canucks Mascot Fin brings a fun-first message to the Canucks Centre for BC Hockey program First Strides. Over 160 under-8 year olds participated in the Canucks Centre for BC Hockey First Strides program this season. On February 26, the Canucks Centre for BC Hockey hosted First Strides presented by Bayer Contour at General Motors Place. BC Hockey course conducters joined Vancouver Canuck Mason Raymond and mascot Fin to take the young athletes through fun skills exercises, games and lessons about teammwork. Over 160 young Initiation hockey players under the age of eight came to take part during the 2008.09 season. The focus is on young players taking their first strides on the ice and enjoying the game of hockey and sports as a whole.
CANUCKS FEMALE JAMBOREE BUILDS LEADERSHIP IN MINOR HOCKEY PLAYERS ACROSS THE PROVINCE Canucks Female Jamboree presented by Minute Maid brought together girls 7-13 years old from across BC to celebrate their participation in female hockey. The young minor hockey athletes enjoyed a visit from Canuck mascot Fin, inspiring stories from Canadian Olympic medallist Veronica Brenner, and fun team-building games on and off the ice. The young athletes came from many BC communities, including William s Lake, Gold River and Lake Cowichan. BC Hockey presented an enjoyable weekend of non-competitive sports, fun interaction and the opportunity to meet role models and friends. BC Hockey and the Canucks Centre for BC Hockey partnered to deliver a truly memorable experience for all these young athletes. CANUCKS FOR KIDS FUND 19TH ANNUAL TELETHON RAISES SIGNIFICANT FUNDS FOR THE KIDS! ABOVE: Rogers SportsNet Pacific broadcaster and Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon Host Don Taylor asks Canuck Place child Quinn from Kelowna a question while Kristin Reid looks on. Gina Luongo takes some time on the phone at the Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon. Willie Mitchell shares a laugh with friend and Canuck Place patient, Mattias. Andrea Kesler talks to donors who called from around the province to make a contribution to the Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon. On March 15, the Canucks for Kids Fund held its 19th annual Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon presented by Chevrolet, raising over $875,000 through generous fan donations from around the province and organized events throughout the year. The event benefits Canuck Place Children s Hospice. Over $400,000 was raised through online, phone and mail donations and over $475,000 was raised through Canucks for Kids Fund partnered events throughout the 2008-2009 season. The Telethon aired on TEAM 1040 Sports Radio and the Rogers Sportsnet Pacific broadcast, and featured sports personalities Don Taylor, Craig MacEwen and Canucks TV reporter Kristin Reid. Chevrolet generously donated a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Telus donated the services of their call centre and energetic employee volunteers. Canuck Place celebrates its 14th anniversary this year, offering specialized care for children with progressive life-threatening illnesses. The Canucks for Kids Fund through events like the Telethon and support of fans and partner sponsors has granted over $20 million to Canuck Place since it first opened its doors.
YVR GOLF FOR KIDS SET TO TEE OFF YVR golf for kids Left to Right: Canuck Place family Darren and Hege Hoegler with their children Mattias and Markus, Sportsnet s Craig MacEwen, YVR Golf for Kids co-chairs Karen Hanks and Jim Westmacott. On behalf of YVR Golf for Kids, Karen Hanks and Jim Westmacott present a cheque for $190,000 to Canuck Place, represented by the Hoegler family. This year s YVR Golf for Kids annual golf and dinner auction will take place on August 20th, 2009. YVR Golf for Kids brings together the airport and surrounding communities in a unique effort to raise funds for children s charities including the Canucks for Kids Fund and Canuck Place Children s Hospice. Over the past 17 years YVR Golf for Kids has donated over $2.3 million to Canuck Place Children s Hospice and other children s charities. For further information about the event and its beneficiaries, please log onto www.yvrgolfforkids.com. Canucks for Kids Fund supports Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship the Canucks for Kids Fund honoured Trevor Linden, here with his wife Cristina, with a $10,000 post secondary scholarship in his name. The Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship rewards students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities and a commitment to enriching the lives of others in the community. The Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship recognizes four student leaders in the province of British Columbia entering their first year of post secondary education, who have made exceptional contributions to: School and community service, leadership Initiating community development Affecting positive change Mentoring others Personal development and growth Good academic performance Each application is reviewed and scholarship recipients from four regions in BC are chosen who most closely meet the selection criteria (provided there are suitable, qualified applicants). A total of four scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded to high school students who have the academic skills to successfully enter and complete post secondary education. For more information please log on to canucks.com/scholarship.
CANUCKS FOR KIDS FUND Supports BC Children s Charities 2008.09 season beneficiaries Include: $1.5 million Canuck Place Children s Hospice $423,000 Canucks Autism Network $110,000 BC Children s Hospital Centre for Research in Childhood Diabetes $100,000 Britannia Community Services $65,000 BC Children s Hospital (for a Real Time PCR machine to be used in Diabetes research) $60,000 (over 3 yrs) Arts Umbrella $50,000 Ronald McDonald House BC $20,000 Britannia Hockey Academy $20,000 Templeton Dream Big Productions Vancouver School District Foundation $10,000 Province Empty Stocking Fund $1,000 Literacy BC $1,000 United Way of Prince George $1,000 YWCA Crabtree Corner