Red Deer Vipers announce multi-year community partnership with the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre at their Inaugural Annual Golf Tournament on Friday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Inaugural Annual Golf Tournament

Red Deer Vipers partner with Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

Aug 12, 2022 | 3:31 PM

The Red Deer Vipers Junior Hockey Club announced on Friday a multi-year community partnership agreement with the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC).

At their Inaugural Golf Tournament at Riverbend Golf & Recreation Area, 22 teams totalling roughly 88 players came together to raise funds that will be split between the CACAC and the Red Deer Vipers hockey programs, according to Brady Sim, Director of Media, Marketing & Sponsorships for the team.

“I truly believe out of all the organizations in our community, there’s almost none more important than the work the Child Advocacy Centre does,” he said. “This problem is present right in our backyards when it comes to the abuse of children whether it’s by family or by people that they should be able to trust, whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, sexual.”

The golf tournament began with a continental breakfast for players with a dinner to follow, a 50/50 draw, prizes to be won, and a silent auction. Also present were Dale Scott, General Manager of the team and Head Coach Fred Jones.

While no specific fundraising goal, Sim says one objective for the tournament and partnership is to share the message that the Vipers are a community-minded team.

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“Obviously we’re a hockey team, we want to develop better hockey players; but, I think our mantra has got to be: we want to develop better people. We want them to come in at 18 and be better people when they leave. One of the things that I think, in value, we need to instill is community and giving back. It’s events like this that instill those values and our hope is to create community leaders,” he said.

Alongside an annual golf tournament, Jodie Jamieson, Community Development Coordinator for the CACAC, says they will be involved in the Vipers’ community tailgate barbeque this September and on location for their October 15 home game to share their awareness campaign during Child Abuse Prevention Month, among other partnership events throughout the year.

“One in three Canadians are effected by some sort and some form of child abuse,” she said. “I think people, they fear coming out and speaking their experiences because of the shame and there’s no shame in seeking support. That’s what we’re here for.”

Dylan Rambow, Communications Coordinator for the CACAC says not only is the organization grateful for the partnership but it’s good to have positive connections with sports teams.

“It’s important that we engage with sports teams at the child advocacy level because there have been a lot of stories in the news that have come about of abuse in sports and so I think the more teams that align themselves with different child advocacy centres and really help spread that education and awareness, the safer we can make sports experiences for youth, the better,” he said.

The CACAC says since January 2022, it has helped close to 400 children, or two to three daily, from across central Alberta.