Sioux Lookout, ON – The community of Sioux Lookout made a valiant effort to win the annual Kraft Hockeyville challenge this year, but came-up short. The community was nominated by Sioux Mountain Public School, and local residents worked together in an effort to secure the top prize for Sioux Lookout: $100,000 for upgrades to the local Memorial Arena and a chance to host an NHL Pre-Season game in our community.
The Municipality’s Recreation & Culture Manager, Gerson Agustin, said of the community’s efforts to be named Kraft Hockeyville 2016, “I was so impressed with the response from our community; from the leadership shown by Sioux Mountain Public School with the backing of Michael Boos, school principal, in supporting his staff in spearheading the nomination, to the many community members who rallied and contributed in so many ways to help win this sought-after distinction,” adding, “although we didn’t make it into the top ten finalists, I am very hopeful that the community will try again next year.”
Sioux Lookout’s Memorial Arena is aging, and while the Municipality has invested in capital improvements to the building, it is in need of further upgrades and repairs, and winning the $100,000 grand prize would have helped undertake some of those additional projects for the facility. In the meantime, the Arena continues to be used extensively by many stakeholders in the community, and the Municipality will continue to ensure it remains open and accessible to the public.
“Although we came-up short this year, I hope the community doesn’t lose momentum,” Agustin noted, remarking, “we now have almost a whole year to work on new ideas and initiatives to raise the profile of our community, in hopes of having an even better chance next year.”
