Readying for Hometown Hockey

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

Put the politics aside, it’s going to be all hockey at Oshawa city hall on Dec. 26 and 27 as Rogers Hometown Hockey takes over Civic Square.

Kicking off at noon on Saturday, residents are invited to enjoy interactive displays that will wrap themselves around city hall. On hand will be a ball hockey rink and skills competition, live music and the chance to meet with former NHL players.

Saturday’s events are only a precursor to the main event, which will see Oshawa featured live on national television as Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the New York Islanders will be hosted by Ron MacLean, broadcasting live from Oshawa.

“Oshawa is going to be the place to be on the 26th and 27th of December,” says Mayor John Henry. “There will be lots going on around the building and it will the same atmosphere and excitement that the Pan Am Games had. It’s going to be a big event.”

During Sunday’s broadcast, a pre-game show will showcase Oshawa’s hockey history, starting at 5:30 p.m. The hockey game will also be aired on screens at Civic Square from approximately 6 to 9 p.m.

“We’re excited. It’s going to bring another level of enjoyment, something to do between the holidays. We’re going to be showcased across Canada,” Henry says.

Oshawa will be the 12th stop of the Hometown Hockey tour, which kicked off back in October in Kitchener.

The show, now in its second season, highlights the history and hockey spirit in communities across Canada.

Thousands spent on event

The event doesn’t come without a price tag.

Oshawa council has agreed to shell out $60,000 to cover the costs of Rogers bringing in their equipment and setting up shop out front of the city’s administration building.

Another $30,000 has been set aside of the event’s operating budget for recreation and culture staff, as well as another $30,000 for staffing, security, equipment rentals and the waiving of fees facility rental and a budget contingency.

Part of the budget also includes the hiring of an events coordinator for approximately $25,000.

Staff were directed in July to search for additional sources of money in the city’s budget to fund the event, including funds saved from gapping, or pushing low-priority projects to 2016.

However, at council’s most recent meeting, a motion stated that no sources of funds could be found, and the remaining $30,000 were taken from the city’s corporate contingency fund.

For more details about Hometown Hockey and the events at city hall this weekend, visit the city’s website at www.oshawa.ca/RHH