The Gatineau Olympiques – Part of the Community
The Gatineau Olympiques have played 43 seasons of exceptional hockey, and aside from being one of the winningest teams in the QMJHL, they are also an organization that is very involved in their community.
Every year, Olympiques players take part in dozens of different events, the team gives to various organizations, and many theme nights are held, to raise funds for different causes.
‘For our organization, community involvement is a way of thanking people for their support, over these many years. It’s a social commitment that we take toward these differed organizations. In short, it’s our way of giving back to the community’, affirmed Olympiques co-owner and president, Alain Sear.
Breast Cancer Foundation
Like all other league teams, every October, the Olympiques hold the famous pink game. In addition to auctioning the players’ jerseys, the organization sells scarves and holds a draw for personalized jerseys. This year, the Olympiques were proud to donate a cheque for $5000 to the Gatineau Health Foundation.
Movember
On November 27th, the Olympiques held a match to benefit the Movember initiative in order to raise funds and and increase awareness around issues concerning men’s health, particularly prostate cancer. Enough promotional items were sold to give a $1000 donation to Movember Canada.
Stuffed Toy Game
On December 5th, no fewer than 619 stuffed animals were collected at the Robert Guertin Centre, when Alex Dostie scored the first goal of the game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. On December 17th, these stuffed toys were delivered by hand by Olympiques players to needy children who receive aid from the Hull Friendship House.
Media Food Drive
On December 4th, during the Media Food Drive that took place throughout Quebec, four players from the Olympiques along with their mascot Hully, got up early to help collect donations from motorist during rush hour.
Gatineau Hospital Visit
It’s a classic event for many sports organizations during the festive season, to visit sick children in their region. Alexandre Alain, Yan-Pavel Laplante, Alexandre Landreville and Vitalii Abramov did just that on December 15th when they represented the Olympiques at the Gatineau Hospital. They gave out presents to around twenty patients of the Le Copain pediatric clinic. All these gifts had been wrapped by volunteers who collected donations for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. It was an event that benefited two worth causes.
A Cogeco Christmas
This year, as part of the Cogeco Christmas campaign organized by Cogeco stations in Quebec, specifically 104.7 FM in the Outaouais, the Olympiques decided to sponsor five children.
Dream Day
For a 12th year, the Olympiques are allowing young hockey players to live a dream day in their company. This January, a Minor hockey team from the Outaouais region will have the opportunity to have an unforgettable day with the Olympiques players: They will get to visit the team dressing room, play with Hully, practice with the players and have dinner at a St-Hubert rotisserie.
The Hockey Fun Programme
Again this year, the Olympiques will be proud partners in the self-financing Hockey Fun programme, that helps different social, community, and sports organizations to collect money for their cause. All that the organizations have to do is sell regular-priced, $18 Olympiques tickets, and for every ticket sold, they will receive $6. For example, if they sell 100 tickets, they will receive $600.
Theme Nights
Finally, all season long, the Olympiques in collaboration with different regional organizations, hold theme nights to raise funds for various causes. For example, on January 31st, it will be the Gatineau Pulmonary Clinic, February 5th there will be a food drive for the Moisson Outaouais, February 26th, there will be a night to profit the Leucan Outaouais, and on March 19th, it will be the Quebec Cancer Foundation’s turn.
Translation: Richard Dumas
