Campus Ice Centre to host curling fundraiser

By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express

It’s time to hit the ice as the Campus Ice Centre is hosting a curling fundraiser in early March.

All money raised will go to Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart Canada, an organization that was founded in 2005, and has helped more than 1.8 million children from lower income families to participate in athletics as of the end of 2018.

Rachel Goodman, a facility and administrative intern at the Campus Ice Centre, notes part of the reason they chose Jumpstart is because it will generate interest, as it is a recognizable name.

According to Goodman, the curling fundraiser has been going on for 11 years.

“It’s a pretty regular thing now,” says Goodman. “What happens is we pick a charity that we want to donate to, and it’s usually related to sports and helping out families with kids.”

She notes the Campus Ice Centre doesn’t always fundraiser for the same charity, as last year they donated to Their Opportunity, a local charity that provides “pay-it-forward” funds.

Those who receive the funds are required to “pay-it-forward” through actions such as community service and engagement.

In 2017, $3,300 was donated to the Oshawa Girls Hockey Association.

She says this year their goal is to match donations they’ve made in the past.

She notes a lot of people come every year, such as “People who work at other recreation facilities… we usually invite the presidents of Durham College and UOIT, but they can’t make it out this year… So it’s mostly local people.”

She notes there will be Durham College and UOIT staff attending as well.

According to Goodman the event is an ‘open tournament’ so anyone who wants to participate can.

She says they’re looking forward to the fundraiser, and “it’s a fun event, it’s more of a relaxed situation, it’s not really very formal.”

The tournament takes place on Friday, March 1 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Oshawa Curling Club, 226 Bond Street East.