Prime Minister Stephen Harper attends Hockey Night in Barrie III

August 12, 2010

BARRIE, ONTARIO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today attended Hockey Night in Barrie, a cancer fundraiser organized by Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie..  This annual event raises money for the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Simcoe-Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.
 
Celebrities from sports, politics and entertainment take part each year, playing on teams against one another.  This year’s participants included hockey players Wendel Clark, Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson, Mike Gartner and Steve Thomas; Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence; TSN’s James Duthie; Olympian Kurt Browning; singer Michael Burgess; rock star Duncan Coutts; and legendary hockey personality Don Cherry, who coached one of the celebrity teams.
 
“Canada is the only country on earth where a group of volunteers could fill a hockey rink on a summer night with over 4,000 fans to watch a pick-up game and raise money for a good cause,” said Prime Minister Harper in remarks to the crowd.  “That is what makes our country so great, combining the greatest game on earth with volunteer community spirit to support a cause that benefits us all.”
 
The event also paid tribute to the Canadian Forces, with the Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay and over 200 members of the Forces from nearby CFB Borden in attendance.  The Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics’ flag party and the Blackdown Cadet Training Centre Massed Band took part in the pre-game ceremonies, and Borden’s new base commander, Colonel J.P.L. Meloche, laced up his skates alongside Minister MacKay.
 
The three Hockey Nights in Barrie have raised a combined total of $421,000.