Bringing Canada Together

We're approaching a third month of self-isolation, quarantines, and social distancing with some restrictions being lifted in Canada depending on where you're living. It can't be said enough: stay home if you don't need to be out, and be safe with your actions. The last thing we need at this point is to take steps backwards after making good progress in this area, but it needs to be said that we're inching closer to being able to find some normalcy in our lives again.

If there's one thing that brings people together in this country despite the spacing we're required to have, hockey is one of those things. At rinks across the country prior to the lockdown we're in, people would gather to watch games, cheer on the players, celebrate victories, learn from defeats, chat with friends, and enjoy the hockey on the ice. Hockey rinks can be found in virtually every community across this nation, and they take many forms whether they be indoor arenas, outdoor rinks, ponds with boots on them, streets in front of houses, or any other place where the game of hockey can be played.

That's where Scotiabank and Toronto agency The Mark enter the picture. If you recall, Scotiabank encouraged Canadians to submit stories of personal and community connections to the game of hockey back on November 17, 2019 in an effort to create a film that shows the unique snapshot of hockey experiences from across the country over a single 24-hour period in Canada. That film is now ready for Canada, and we'll get a chance to see those hockey experiences on Rogers Sportsnet on Sunday, May 24 at 7pm ET when Hockey24 debuts!

You might be wondering what you'll see in Hockey24 when it comes to these stories, and let's just say there will be some moving stories such as this one.

Stories like the one above from Churchill, Manitoba will be a part of Hockey24 this Sunday, and there will be a pile of other stories told within the documentary from communities from coast to coast to coast. I know I'll be watching, but not because of hockey. Instead, I'll be watching because of the hockey community, the stories from the small towns, and seeing people flock to rinks as a place to gather in a social setting.

I'm excited to see these communities tell their stories, but it's not only geographic communities. We'll hear from cultural communities as immigrant Canadians find hockey as a way to immerse themselves in the community. There will be stories from the LGBTQ community. There are contributions from the sledge hockey community. Literally, every community has a story to tell about hockey, and Hockey24 will try to tell them all!

I hope you'll tune into Rogers Sportsnet on Sunday, May 24 at 7pm ET for Hockey24. We can all use a little normalcy right now, and seeing these stories told from across this great nation can, at least, give us a sense of togetherness when we need it most.

And, if you submitted a video, you might be in the documentary! The only way you'll know? Watch the debut on Sunday night!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!