Residents of Ste. Anne are being told that they did everything they possibly could to win the Kraft Hockeyville grand prize. 

"We could not have done more," says Sarah Normandeau, Recreational Services Manager for Ste. Anne. "You did everything right."

Ste. Anne was named a finalist but eventually lost to West Lorne, Ontario. The announcement was made Saturday evening. Had they won, Ste. Anne would have received $250,000 for arena upgrades, plus had the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game. Instead, Ste. Anne is getting $25,000 for arena improvements.

Normandeau admits that it felt like a funeral in those first moments after learning they had come up short. There were hugs given and tears being shed. She says there was a lot of shock, but, in that moment of deflation, the crowd inside the arena started chanting, 'let's go Aces, let's go.' Normandeau explains that was a time of reminding the community and reminding the kids that they still deserved something to cheer about. She calls it an empowering moment.

Ste. Anne has been vying for the top prize in Kraft Hockeyville since January. In looking back at the last three months, Normandeau says a few people in the community threw a pebble and then the rest of southeastern Manitoba created the tidal wave. In fact, she says it grew to become not only a province-wide rally but really a showing of support from across Canada. 

"I've never seen a community rise like that ever, ever," says Normandeau. "I think the whole country was rooting for the underdog."

The outcome was not what they were hoping for and Normandeau says it is okay to tell their kids that they can be upset about this.

"They can wear their hearts on their sleeve because they were all crying and that was the hardest thing in that moment to watch, it almost broke me at that moment," she admits. "But we have to remind them that they worked so hard for this, and it is not over, it's just beginning."

Normandeau says this is not how the chapter will end. Though the price tag for necessary arena improvements is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Normandeau says the town's Mayor has provided hope for the community. Yvan St. Vincent has assured residents that closing the arena would be like closing the town and they will find a way to keep it open. 

Normandeau says they received a financial boost over the weekend from all those who took in the festivities at the arena. She notes the pancake breakfast alone fed more than 500 people, bringing in $3,000. The 50/50 also sold out, generating another $3,000. There was also a pig roast that took in $2,000 as well as a woman who sold cupcakes and raised $682 for the arena. All told she notes they probably took in $10,000 over the weekend. That is in addition to the $25,000 they are receiving from Kraft Hockeyville, and the $10,000 coming from the NHL Players Association for equipment. 

According to Normandeau, the question being asked now is, what's next, and how many more waves can be created? She says everybody wants to build on the momentum that has now been created. A recently formed steering committee is already looking at ways to generate more funds. Normandeau says one of the ideas being tossed around is to hold a fundraising social. But she says they are also hopeful of securing government funding in order for the necessary repairs to happen inside the arena.

"I have to believe amazing things are going to come out of this because it will," she says. "I just refuse to believe otherwise."

Normandeau stresses this is not only a Ste. Anne issue but has a ripple effect across the southeast. If it reaches a point where the Ste. Anne arena cannot open its doors next winter, she says that impacts their players but also each team at every level that is scheduled to play Ste. Anne next winter. Not only that but with Steinbach down to one sheet of us next year, Normandeau says that will already put pressure on surrounding rinks. 

 

With files from Dave Anthony and Michelle Sawatzky

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