Cyriah Richard has somewhat observe pinned to her wall. It’s a promise made to herself a few years in the past.
She’s had it since she may first match into skates and it says “I hope I will be in the Canada Games.”
Today, it is a dream come true.
Richard, from Tignish, will compete in opposition to the nation’s high hockey expertise subsequent month when the Canada Winter Games begins on P.E.I. Better but, she’s enjoying on dwelling ice.
“I always dreamed of playing in the Canada Games I cannot wait,” Cyriah stated. Her mother, Tina, added: “since she was about three she’s said ‘I’m going to play in the Canada Games.’ It was her goal.”
Cyriah stated she came upon she can be one of the group’s two goalies final October. Since then, she’s been coaching arduous, and acquired to carry the torch throughout the last leg of the relay by means of Tignish.
After years of chasing that aim of in the future making it to the Canada Games, discovering out she is going to now play in her hometown makes that dream much more particular. Hosting occasions in smaller Island communities means extra individuals can have the chance to be half of the video games who might not in any other case, she stated.
“Everyone comes to support you. I know there were a lot of people walking behind me when I was carrying the torch that came to watch my hockey games, but I also didn’t know some people … just did it because they love the sport.”
She stated her hope is to encourage different younger athletes from small cities to go after their objectives.
Cyriah’s mother, Tina Richard, can be Tignish’s recreation director. She stated she remembers the joy across the 1991 Canada Games — the final time the winter video games have been held on P.E.I. — and watching athletes from throughout the nation come to compete. She stated the chance to host an occasion in her hometown is a fair greater thrill.
“It’s exciting for everybody,” Richard stated. “We’ll have people from two to 100 years old out here at this rink watching because people from Tignish love hockey.
Tignish will be hosting one of the female hockey games, something Richard said is a perfect fit for the community.
“We have so much of ladies enjoying hockey and it will be good to see different ladies competing at that stage, and know they might do it in just a few years time and possibly it will be their flip to make it on the large stage.”
‘We’re excited to have that level of competition’
Richard said hosting events will also be a boost for businesses within P.E.I.’s smaller communities during the off-season. She said accommodations in western P.E.I. have been booking up and restaurants are preparing for crowds.
Apart from P.E.I.’s two cities, Canada Games events are also being hosted in O’Leary, Tyne Valley, Abram-Village, Three Rivers, Stratford and North Rustico.
Erica Wagner owns Backwoods Burger, which has locations in Tyne Valley as well as the rinks in O’Leary and Tignish. She said business always slows down in the winter, and having a boost like this is more than welcome.
“It’s such a chance for us to attain individuals from all throughout the Island,” she said.
“Sometimes it looks like while you’re a member of smaller, rural communities that every part is type of very centralized to Charlottetown and people areas. So spreading the wealth throughout Prince Edward Island, showcasing all these totally different communities, is de facto superior,” she said.
Wagner’s neighbour in Tyne Valley is Dillon’s Convenience & Pizzeria, which is a popular spot for locals. Manager Betty Enman said she hopes Canada Games will bring some new faces to the community as well.
“Hopefully so much of individuals will be taught [about] our little treasure right here in Tyne Valley,” she said. “In wintertime it is ‘get in and get out, get to city and get dwelling once more.’ But with the Canada Games, and having the ability to go to these smaller communities, you see the gorgeous features of them, you meet the individuals.”
It’s such a chance for us to attain individuals from all throughout the Island.— Erica Wagner
She said she also hopes it will inspire people to come back and visit again.
Tyne Valley Mayor Jeff Noye said there are still some final touches that need to be added to the rink there. But overall, people in the community are excited to welcome new faces into the rink. He expects all 350 seats to be full.
“We’re excited to have that stage of competitors come and to show off our nice facility and our native companies and simply our city itself,” Noye said.
The 2023 Winter Canada Games will run at venues across P.E.I. from Feb. 18 until March 5.
P.E.I. host communities ready to show thousands of athletes, spectators their Canada Games spirit
P.E.I. host communities ready to show thousands of athletes, spectators their Canada Games spirit
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P.E.I. host communities ready to show thousands of athletes, spectators their Canada Games spirit