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Skate North provides sports equipment for young northerners

By Heather Andrews Miller

For many years when Edmonton’s Sheila Butt was travelling north of 60 for her employer, the federal government, she noticed the lack of activities for the youth of the small communities in which she frequently found herself.

"My territory included the High Arctic and I fell in love with it in a heartbeat, the people and the environment, it just gets in your blood," she says. "There a lot of challenges but the people have adapted greatly, from a nomadic traditional culture to a settled existence." She was concerned, however, that there was a shortage of organized wholesome activities in the communities.

"I looked around and recognized that one huge resource they had was ice and snow, in abundance," she explains. "While they often had a snowmobile or toboggan, I didn’t see ice skates or hockey games going on."

One day she met with Paul Quassa, the mayor of Igloolik in what is now Nunavut, and asked him if his community could use some skating and hockey equipment. Her question was answered with such enthusiasm that she determined to attempt to follow through with her suggestion. "So I talked with the owner of United Cycle, who referred me to the Brick Sport Central, a not-for-profit organization which collects and refurbishes used sporting equipment for youngsters who otherwise would not be able to participate in local sports," she remembers.

She approached them and asked if they would collect for the northern communities and was immediately assured of the organization’s participation.

"So now I had to figure out how to get it up there," she continues. "I believe good works begin with the power of one and I knew I could get help with my Skate North project."

She sought out a contact person in each northern community who would be the co-ordinator so that everyone would have access to the equipment.

Butt’s first shipment, 1,855 pieces, arrived in Igloolik in July 2008.

"It was like Christmas," she recalls. "Paul Quassa had arranged for kids to meet the plane at the tiny airport, and as soon as we landed, the kids poured out onto the tarmac, cheering and claiming pieces of equipment for their own in anticipation of the coming winter’s activities." The popularity of hockey as a Canadian sport makes the equipment a highly desirable for northerners. "Hockey is our national sport, and they’ve seen games on satellite TV. Now they can be part of the fun and have some worthwhile activities to keep them busy through their long winters," Butt says with a laugh. She thanks Canadian North Airways, who flew the equipment, herself and two reporters into the community and she says the project would not have got off the ground without the airline’s help. Aklak Air has also been generous in getting equipment to other locations. "Here in Edmonton, CFCW gave me airtime to let everyone know about the project," Butt adds. "Listeners started responding, such as Whitecourt Transport who volunteered to bring in a truckload of equipment from residents in the area. And CTV gave lots of television coverage, so the support from the community was awesome."

She also acknowledges private donors such as her friend Doug Ward in Ontario who, hearing of a severe lack of cash resources, generously wrote a cheque to help the project.

The Skate North project is ongoing. Edmonton-area residents can get onboard by checking their attics, basements and garages for no-longer-used skates and hockey equipment and drop it off at any community police station as well as at several retail locations.

The Brick Sports Central is located at 11847 Wayne Gretzky Drive North and cash donations can also be made at the site. A full list of drop-off locations and equipment desired is available at www.sportcentral.org/pdf/SportCentralDropOffList.pdf.

"Collection goes on year round," Butt says, adding that a career change to employment with the Royal Bank of Canada’s insurance division has given her employer support that she greatly appreciates. "They are behind me in this project, so that’s much appreciated."

Butt is happy to address service clubs and social groups and can be contacted at 780-886-3029. "Something extraordinary happened to the power of one," she concludes. "It became the power of many, as I didn’t accomplish Skate North myself; it took the power of many different individuals and companies but look what we’ve accomplished! All citizens can join with us to give the children of the north some wonderful and worthwhile opportunities."