14 teams competed in Wednesday nigjt's Hunger Games. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community support

3rd annual Hunger Games raises over $15K for P.A. food bank

Dec 4, 2025 | 12:00 PM

A competitive, yet friendly fundraiser for the Prince Albert Food Bank has raised $15,000.

The third annual Hunger Games was held on Wednesday night at the Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services Center.

The Sturgeon Lake division of the First Nations Cadet Corps (FNCC) raised $2,700 and, for the third straight year, won the Christmas Spirit Trophy. Leanne Demerais is a teacher at Sturgeon Lake School and also works with the young cadets. She said the entire community was very supportive.

“We did some sales like breakfast sandwiches, and then we did some poutine sales, and we did some little card games and stuff, and it worked out really well,” she said.

Commenting on the youth involved in cadets, she said they love the competition and are required to keep up with their schoolwork, be respectful of teachers and maintain 99 per cent attendance.

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“They really like it, and then they come here and work their butts off.”

The Sturgeon Lake Division of the First Nations Cadets Corp. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Throughout the night, the teams engaged in a number of challenges, including volleyball, a plank challenge, and both a basketball and a candy drop relay. After all the points were counted, the Saskatchewan Marshals Service was declared the victor. Inspector Troy Dumont said they were very proud to be a part of this year’s event.

“We’re part of the community, and it means a lot to the people, and we incorporated a few people from our community for our team, and I think it made a big impact,” he said.

Finishing second in the challenges was the RCMP followed by the Prince Albert Fiirefighters Association.

Also competing this year were federal corrections officers, Parkland Ambulance, conservation officers and the Prince Albert Police Service.

The young winner of the planking challenge lasted over 7 minutes. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The Marshals team. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Prince Albert Food Bank Executive Director Kim Scruby said the donation will have a positive impact. He stated usage had been going up every month by five per cent and is way up from years ago. In 2017, they averaged 700 to 750 hampers a month.

“We’re averaging between 1,100 and 1,200 now,” he said.

With the Christmas season around the corner, Scruby said they need all sorts of non-perishables such as pasta, rice and anything canned. There’s also a need for baby food, diapers and pet food

“About 30 per cent of our clients that come in are asking for pet food,” Scruby said.

The Hunger Games was initially started in 1998 when the original First Nations Cadet Corps in Saskatchewan held a fundraising event where they challenged the local RCMP to a competition night.

The Prince Albert division and the Sturgeon Lake division of the FNCC have since taken this on and have expanded it to include other police agencies, first responders, corrections workers and other organizations.

(Submitted/ Rick Sanderson)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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