SOUTHLAND had the exciting opportunity to be a sponsor of the AJHL Showcase’s Truth and Reconciliation Celebration, hosted by the Calgary Canucks in partnership with the Siksika First Nation.
The event provided a platform for meaningful conversations, cultural exchange, and a shared commitment to the principles of truth and reconciliation. All who partnered in this event contributed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment, allowing attendees to engage in open dialogue, learn from one another, experience indigenous culture, and strengthen the bonds between communities.
This sponsorship also assisted the Canucks with their reconciliation offering. The Canucks moved their November 29, 2023, home game to the Deerfoot Sportsplex for the first-ever regular season Junior A hockey game at Siksika. The game started with a fantastic celebration by our hosts in front of a sold-out crowd and ended with a community meal with both teams participating. The event raised ~$10,000 for Siksika minor hockey, and many young children benefited from the interaction with the Canuck players.
The Canucks offering has expanded into a partnership with the Kakatosiiks Foundation, which will see 40 youth hockey players from each of the seven nations of the Treaty Seven come to Calgary for a day of hockey school with the Canucks.
SOUTHLAND is committed to fostering positive change and understanding within our community, and was proud to play a part in the event’s success.
