Nunavut, Nunavik compete for arena upgrades in national contest

Communities in Nunavut and Nunavik can compete with others across Canada for close to $1 million to improve their arenas as the Kraft Hockeyville contest is expanding its reach.

“There will be a guaranteed regional winner in each of the Canadian territories for the first time,” said contest spokesperson Noor Masud in an email Jan. 22. The contest is sponsored by U.S.-based Kraft Foods.

Masud said no Nunavut community has ever won the Hockeyville contest.

There were four regional prize winners last year. This year, for the contest’s 20^th anniversary, one community from each territory and province will win $50,000 toward their arena.

As of midday Tuesday, Kangirsuk in Nunavik and Qikiqtarjuaq in Nunavut are the sole entrants from those regions.

Kangirsuk, with about 600 residents, lost its arena in an fire in April 2019 that also destroyed equipment owned by local clubs and hockey players. A new arena was built two years ago.

Qikiqtarjuaq, also with a population of about 600, is without a functioning arena.

“Qikiqtamiut Arena has been closed for a couple of years now as it needs an entire building renovation or to build a new one for the community,” said Adrian Toomasie, a Qikiqtarjuaq resident, in nominating his community online earlier this month.

Iqaluit recreation staff are also working on a contest entry this month, said city spokesperson Geoff Byrne.

The contest is currently in the nomination phase, where community members can highlight their local arena online and explain why it needs an upgrade.

Each entry will be considered in March. That’s when judges from Kraft, the NHL and National Hockey League Players Association will review the nominations and award scores, which will make up 80 per cent of each entry’s final score.

The remaining 20 per cent is based on online voting, which can include posting images and emojis. One winner from each of Canada’s 13 regions will receive a $50,000 prize.

From there, the top two entries will compete for the first-place prize worth $250,000 and the right to host an NHL preseason game. The second-place finisher gets $100,000 for arena upgrades.

The deadline for nominations is March 1.