Town to donate ice time for fundraiser for STARS Air Ambulance

Posted on: January 31, 2024January 31, 2024 Staff Writer

By Rob Vogt
The Town of Claresholm will support a fundraiser held at the Claresholm Arena by a regional hockey association with all proceeds going to STARS Air Ambulance.
At its Jan. 22 meeting, town council agreed to waive the ice fees at the Claresholm Arena on Saturday, Feb. 10, for the Foothills Bisons AA Hockey Association’s fundraising event.
A letter from Lexie Farmer, of the Foothills Bisons AA Hockey Association, explained part of the area they draw players from is Claresholm, as well as Diamond Valley, Vulcan, High River, Nanton and Stavely.
Every year they put on a fundraising event in one of the communities in their draw zone and have all three of their AA teams – Under-13, Under-15, and Under-18 – play at that community’s arena.
The Bisons’ fundraising event has been going on more than 20 years.
In 2022, they raised more than $9,000 for the Foothills Boys and Girls Club, and lastyear raised more than $21,000 for the cancer treatment centre in High River.
They also hold a food and toiletry drive, usually for local food rescue initiatives led by Wildrose Community Connections.
This year, the association is running their fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Claresholm Arena.
The charity is STARS Air Ambulance, chosen in memory of a Bison’s dad who recently passed away.
Farmer noted they booked three games at Claresholm Arena, and asked if they could have their ice rental at a reduced rate.
In the past two years, both Vulcan and Black Diamond, now Diamond Valley, waived all ice fees.
Those funds were then re-allocated to the Foothills Boys and Girls Club and cancer centre respectively.
Farmer said that given the difficulties of increased operating costs coupled with inflation, they certainly understood if no fee reduction was possible, but thought it couldn’t hurt to ask just in case.
Coun. Mike Cutler pointed out there are players from Claresholm playing on all three Foothills Bisons AA teams, so there is local representation.
Council then agreed to to waive the ice fees at the Claresholm Arena on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 for the Foothills Bisons AA Hockey Association’s fundraising event in support of STARS.