Beginning tomorrow, a six-month volunteer program will kick-off allowing children to play ice hockey with police officers from the Victoria and Saanich detachments.
The Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) program originally began as Vancouver volunteer-driven charity and has now expanded across the country.
Not only does the program allow kids to connect with police officers from Victoria and Saanich, but it’s also designed to teach them life skills and self-empowerment.
Since its inception 20 years ago, the program has helped nearly 10,000 children and youth with its three separately branched streams.
With the help of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, 32 girls and boys in grades four to six have been selected to take part in the program
These kids will consist of students from Tillicum Elementary School, Craigflower Elementary School, Rockheights Middle School, and Shoreline Middle School.
Students from these schools will be picked up and driven to G.R. Pearkes Arena to play Canada’s most loved great game every Thursday until March 12th.
Several officers from the Victoria Police Department and the Saanich Police Department will volunteer their time each week.
The three streams focus on different young players with varying needs from socio-economic troubles, personal challenges, and cognitive and/or physical challenges.
Gear for the games has been donated by Sport Chek.
