Protests planned in Southern Alberta to “let kids play”

So Beagle started making calls and about 60 people turned out on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon in his central Alberta community to urge the provincial government to “let kids play.”

“The biggest thing is just to get some attention to kids and mental health,” Beagle said Monday.

“A lot of people say we’re ignoring the virus, absolutely not. We see it every day and totally respect that.”

Team sports across Alberta have been prohibited since December 13 (since November 13 in Calgary, Edmonton, and surrounding areas) as part of the province’s public health measures designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“It will really depend on how we all collectively work together to keep those numbers coming down,” Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said recently when asked about a potential return to play.

Beagle, a long-time minor hockey coach and former Western Hockey League and Chinook Hockey league player, says he and his supporters aren’t demanding a return to full-on league play, just the opportunity to get groups of kids back being active.

“Not just hockey, I’m talking about every activity there is,” he insists. “Some people think we’re just doing it for sports, absolutely not. We’re talking about any club, any activity that gets kids’ attention and is something they’ve worked for.”

“Hockey Alberta understands the concern and frustration being felt by the hockey community across the province as the pause continues in our sport,” Hockey Alberta CEO Rob Litwinski said in a statement.

“We have been clear in our support of the expertise provided by Alberta’s health experts and the importance of the health and safety of all Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. But we also share the sentiment that has been expressed to us by hockey parents across the province – that the mental and physical health benefits of participating in hockey are important to their children, our players.”

Litwinski says Hockey Alberta, who on Jan. 7 cancelled its 2021 provincial championship tournaments due to the uncertainty over return to play, has been working with officials from the government, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so.

“We believe that, given the opportunity, Hockey Alberta and our Member organizations can develop and implement a plan to allow our more than 100,000 participants to return safely to the ice to enjoy the final couple of months of the season.”

Following the protest in Rimbey, Bentley Minor Hockey announced that several Minor League Hockey associations were planning several similar events.

Official Press Release for Let Them Play Protest: Tomorrow (January.26th) at 4pm Minor League Hockey associations are…

Posted by Bentley Minor Hockey on Monday, January 25, 2021

“We are planning this march because there is a good possibility that minor hockey and youth sports for our children could be shutdown as early as this week for this season. We know the government is getting pressure from the cities and municipalities to get a decision as soon as possible because it is very expensive for them to keep the facilities open when no one is using them and paying for them. Some arenas are already losing their ice due to costs. Furthermore we think it is completely unjust that professional NHLers can play hockey but our children can’t. The primary event that is confirmed to go ahead is in the town of Indus, Alberta at the Indus recreation centre. This is a peaceful protest, the goal is to let the kids have a chance to share and allow their voices to be heard,” reads a portion of the social media post from Bently Minor Hockey.

On Tuesday, January 26 at 4:00 pm, rallies will be held in:

Bentley, AB
Bow Island, AB
Castor, AB
Coronation, AB
Delburne, AB
Medicine Hat, AB
Provost, AB
Pembina, AB
Vulcan, AB
Wetaskiwin, AB

by David Opinko / with files from Troy Gillard

Protests planned in Southern Alberta to “let kids play”

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