(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

spreading the word

Oilers host luncheon in Red Deer to benefit child advocacy centre

Sep 7, 2019 | 6:36 PM

Oilers Entertainment Group and the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) held a fun Saturday luncheon featuring a hot stove with Head Coach Dave Tippet, GM Ken Holland, and President Tom Anselmi.

Proceeds went to the child advocacy centre, which along with Edmonton’s Zebra Centre, is a beneficiary of an Oilers-led golf tournament later this month.

After the festivities, OEG chairman Bob Nicholson spoke to rdnewsNOW about why supporting charities and partaking in activities outside the Edmonton region is such an integral part of the organization’s goals.

“Our branding is Oil Country and we really recognize Red Deer being part of that. When I first joined the Oilers, looking at what they were doing, and I had for years worked with Sheldon Kennedy, it really meant a lot to me opening up this centre (in Red Deer). It’s a big issue in society and in our country.”

Nicholson also touched on how helping out with charities can help in the development of young players.

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“I just had a great conversation with Connor McDavid this morning, and he’s purchasing a box that we’re going to build out as ‘Connors Corner,’ so he’s talking about the Stollery, and Jumpstart,” Nicholson explains. “You get them in that environment and they go ‘Wow, I’m pretty fortunate.’ Each of them will go to a different area they feel comfortable with and once you’ve got a player with that passion to help out, it takes it to a whole other level.”

Mark Jones, CEO with the CACAC, says a partnership with the Oilers does wonders in terms of getting the word out there that there is help in central Alberta for families dealing with some form of abuse involving a child.

“When the Oilers talk, people listen. We’re really trying to change the way we deal with abuse and kids,” says Jones. “The more that we can build on our sponsors and supporters, the faster we can build that centre at the college, and that’s the key because we’ve already outgrown the place we’re at downtown. Plus, it gives us that opportunity to get the prevention piece out.”

Since opening in December 2017, the child advocacy centre has served more than 700 clients.

More information is at centralalbertacac.ca.