By battlefordsNOW

Battleford residents celebrate Canada’s anniversary with free skate

Dec 11, 2017 | 7:37 PM

Battleford residents showed their national pride Sunday afternoon by taking part in a free skate to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.

The town received a $1,000 micro-grant from the federal government to host the event. 

Mayor Ames Leslie said the event was well supported.

“It was a really good success,” he said. “We had a few hundred people in attendance.”

A former NHL star from the local area – Gregg Sheppard, as well as Barry Belak, stepfather of the late Wade Belak – another former NHL star from the area – also participated.

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A number of Battlefords North Stars players and AAA Battlefords Sharks players also came by to show their support.

Families attending the free skate received free hotdogs and popcorn as well as prize give-a-ways.

The grand prize was an autographed framed picture of former NHL star Blair Atcheynum, who is from Sweet Grass First Nation.

Battleford was one about 300 communities from across the country selected for the grant to hold the hold the Canada 150 community skate parties.

“Everybody had a lot of fun,” Leslie said of the local event. “There was a lot of laughter and smiles. It even had a surprise visit from Santa.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow