
Guided by the slogan “Assisting the Kid in Sport,” a new partnership between Horse Lake First Nation and Sport Central will help all children and families in the region access the sport equipment they need to play hockey and get involved in other sports.
On October 8, the first of two shipments arrived at the Horse Lake arena from Sport Central in Edmonton. Valued in excess of $100,000, the sporting goods will help outfit any kid in the community who wants to play hockey. The second shipment will contain an assortment of bicycles and other sport gear.
“Horse Lake First Nation has a proud sporting history,” says Sheldon Oleksyn, Executive Director of Sport Central. “While many kids in the community play hockey already, we plan to increase this number by ensuring every kid here has access to the equipment they need to play the sports they want. We hope this program expands and eventually serves kids across the region.”

Working with Hockey Alberta, United Cycle in Edmonton, and Ernie’s Sport Experts in Grande Prairie, Sport Central aims to make participation in hockey accessible to all children in northern Alberta through their Outreach Program. Horse Lake was identified as a potential partner through Alberta’s Promise, a provincial initiative that facilitates partnerships for kids.
A special thanks to Alberta’s Promise Premier’s Council members Wilf Brooks and Darwin Eckstrom for helping to get this great partnership into Horse Lake.
Organizations like Sport Central, United Cycle, Ernie’s Sport Experts and Hockey Alberta are Alberta’s Promise partners who belong to a network of hundreds of organizations across Alberta invested in a common goal: making Alberta the best place in the world to raise our children and youth. Read the full story in the Grande Prairie Herald