This year HockeyVille came to the Okanagan, and because Canada is famous for Hockey, Hockeyville is a BIG deal in here. One community across the country is chosen as HockeyVille Canada for the entire year. This year the Village of Lumby (which is just a few minutes from Vernon) was in the top 2. Over the past 10 years HockeVille has contributed over 2 Million dollars for arena renovations across Canada. The top 2 communities get a big party, and get to be on national television while awaiting the results. The arena in Lumby was definitely in need of an upgrade. I used to figure skate in that arena and I remember there were no girls change rooms so if there were boys also skating, we had to take turns in the change room, or you would have to change in the washrooms.

At the park there were all sorts of fun things set up for the kids like face painting, clowns and a bouncy castle, and Vernon’s own Andrew Allen performed on stage. Inside the arena Sports Net was set up and broadcasting live, which was very cool, because EVERYONE in Canada knows who these guys are. Throughout the day we were on TV cheering and screaming hoping for the announcement to come. Finally at around 2:00pm we were all called into the arena and the announcement came, but first the anticipation was being built up. They put Sports Net on the big screen (which was broadcasting from Toronto)  the broadcaster opened the envelope and for a second it felt as if everyone stopped breathing holding there breath, you could see both Lumby (us) and the other Community (in Quebec) on the screen and then the guy on the TV yelled LUMBY!! We had won. The Okanagan is home to HockeyVille Canada, The excitement rose up as everyone screamed and hollered. We won. Now Lumby gets $100,000 in area upgrades (which is needed, as well as a chance to host a NHL Pre-Season Game.
The teams that will be coming to the Okanagan are the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburg Penguins, which is totally something everyone is looking forward to. Congrats LUMBY, very excited to come back to HockVille Canada!!