Hockey teams from across Canada will be coming to the City of Possibilities for the Centennial Cup, and City Council wants the tournament to run as smoothly as possible.
At the council meeting held on February 13th, the council approved a $20,000 donation, which will title the City of Portage la Prairie as a Diamond and Volunteer sponsor. Councillor Joe Masi says the money will come from the accommodation tax reserve.
"We're just so excited that this year we're going to be hosting the National Junior A Hockey Championships again," notes Masi. "Just like we did in 2015 when the Terriers won the Centennial Cup, by the way."
He mentions that a big reason for the sponsorship is the upside in bringing tourism to Portage. Masi says when the Centennial Cup went to Estevan, Saskatchewan, they saw three-million dollars put into the local economy.
"You're going to see, our hotels are going to be full, our restaurants are going to be full, people will be buying gas. It's going to create a real buzz and excitement in our city," explains Masi.
He explains that after speaking with councillors from other host cities over the years, hosting the Centennial Cup leads to people returning to their city to see what else it has to offer.
Masi, along with the rest of the council, is hoping that this donation is another step toward shining a positive light on Portage as it receives attention from all over Canada.
Sat, Apr 27, 5:00 PM
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