Skateathon raises $6,100

The Ministry of Community and Safety and Correctional Services/Easter Seal Kids Skate, has raised just over $6,100 dollars.

Around 800 people turned out for the skate held this morning at Memorial Gardens.

The Ice Breakers sledge hockey team made its first appearance at the skate, joining members of the North Bay Skyhawks.

“The turnout today has been excellent, and we’re especially delighted with the Ice Breakers hockey team coming out, the physically challenged children, and they’re having a ball,” said skate spokesman Colin Vezina.

“We’ve had good representation from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the general public.”

Prior to today’s skate the event needed to raise $7,900 to break the quarter-million dollar mark over its 17-year history.

The skate, organized by Corrections in co-operation with supervising NHL linesman John D’Amico, gives young offenders and low-risk adult offenders the chance to contribute to society by raising funds, and skating for Easter Seal kids.

”For the general public it’s an opportunity to take part in a community event, a family event, for the Easter Seals kid it’s a chance for them to get together,” Vezina said.

“For the inmates, the low risk inmates and the young offenders, it’s an opportunity for them to take part in something that’s constructive and helps to improve and build their self confidence and their sense of ownership in the community. And for the adult offenders, the low risk offenders, who are closely supervised, it’s their way of working back into society. So it’s win-win situation no matter what.”