B.C.’s capital city to welcome Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in 2024
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – Today, the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, alongside community partners, announced that Victoria will host Sportsnet’s Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in January 2024. The celebrations will take place in Victoria’s historic Inner Harbour and feature events for all ages.
The Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, a committee comprised of local community leaders has partnered with Sportsnet, Scotiabank, the City of Victoria, the Province of British Columbia, and Destination Greater Victoria to bring Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada to Vancouver Island for the first time.
Chair of the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, John Wilson said “It is the first time on the West Coast, and will be unique in many ways. The setting on the harbour, which is the traditional unceded territory of Lekwungen speaking peoples, the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation, will showcase Victoria as a spectacular destination any time of the year.” The Save-on-Foods-Memorial Centre (SOFMC), alongside its main tenant, the WHL’s Victoria Royals, will also play a significant role in making the event one to remember for hockey fans. For locals, this event gives the City a chance to demonstrate that Victoria is a true hockey town with its own hometown heroes to celebrate.
“It is an honour for Sportsnet to bring the annual tradition of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada to Victoria in 2024. A unique community rich with outdoor activity and sports history, known for its diversity of both people and nature, Victoria promises to deliver a hockey celebration for the ages with a picturesque setting for our national broadcast on the Pacific coast,” shares Joel Darling, Executive Producer of NHL Special Events at Sportsnet.
The organizers will install a state-of-the-art artificial rink which will be the focal point of activities over the three days leading up to the day of the event. The rink is an asset that will be owned by the Society and will feature prominently in many events and activities in years to come in Victoria.
“At Scotiabank, we are committed to growing the game of hockey by making it more inclusive, diverse, and accessible for all,” says Sophia Pugh, District Vice President at Scotiabank on Vancouver Island. “Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada is a unique opportunity to bring together our passion for the sport and long-standing commitment to investing in the communities where we live and work. We are thrilled to be bringing Scotiabank Hockey Day to Victoria in January.”
Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean, the host of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, provided his support for the event, explaining that he is looking forward to bringing to life the stories of Victoria and particularly incorporating involvement with the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation on the national broadcast.
The event will span four days with a public festival at Ship Point, visits and games featuring NHL Alumni, welcoming of the Stanley Cup, First Nations engagement, and a host of events centered around the ice rink on the harbour, working with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to make this all happen. The Victoria Royals and other local minor hockey associations will play important roles in ensuring that hockey remains central to the theme. Stay tuned for more details on all activities.
“Hockey is Victoria’s game. For over a century, our community has played and cheered for the sport. The Royals are thrilled to be able to host in their home city and participate in many of the activities throughout the events” explains Mike Strawn, Vice President of Sports, Media, and Entertainment at GSL Group and the Victoria Royals Hockey Club.
The local charitable beneficiary of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in 2024 fundraising events will be the Courtnall Society for Mental Health. Founded by former NHL players and Vancouver Canucks Geoff and Russ Courtnall and their brother Bruce, the Courtnall Society for Mental Health Society promotes the understanding of mental health through awareness and education.
More information about Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2024 will be made available by the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society in the coming months.
About Sportsnet
Sportsnet is Canada’s #1 sports network. Sportsnet’s multimedia offerings include Sportsnet (consisting of four regional channels: East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, SN NOW, the Sportsnet Radio Network, Sportsnet.ca , the Sportsnet app, and podcasts. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, National Bank Open presented by Rogers, FIBA, WWE, Super League Rugby, Premiership Rugby, Bundesliga, FA Women’s Super League, and FA Cup. Sportsnet is part of Rogers Sports & Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit Sportsnet.ca.
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000 employees and assets of over $1.3 trillion (as at April 30, 2023), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Victoria Hockey Legacy Society
John Wilson, john.wilson@gowilsonsgroup.com , 250-882-4062
Sportsnet
Jason Jackson, jason.jackson1@rci.rogers.com, 416.602.4033
Scotiabank
Kelty Reid, kelty.reid@scotiabank.com, 437.882.9438
