Greater Victoria Sports Awards announced that CRFMHA has been named the 2023 John & Marilyn Bate Organization of the Year.
The award will be presented at a ceremony on February 29 at Government House. The selection was made by the Nomination Committee of the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission. CRFMHA is the first minor hockey association to be selected for the award since its inception in 1986 and also the first female-focussed organization to receive this recognition. Ian Fleetwood, CRFMHA President, commented that, “Our organization is run entirely by volunteers who work tirelessly to create opportunities for beginners, recreational players and competitive players alike. To be recognized with an external award like this is very special for them”.
The Association has grown by more than 70% since the pandemic and was also recently selected for the Frank Spring Award as BC Hockey’s “Minor Hockey Association of the Year” for 2022-23. It hosts 23 teams in the current playing season, ranging from U7 (5 & 6 year olds) to U21 (18-20 year olds). Drew MacDonald is the Managing Director of Female Hockey for Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (representing the lower mainland). He adds, “CRFMHA has done fantastic work growing and promoting female hockey and has helped raise the sport’s profile in the province to the benefit of all female hockey players. Congratulations on this well-deserved award.” The organization is seeing unprecedented interest since the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), with approximately 180 beginners anticipated for introductory programs (for girls who have never played ice hockey) over the next 6 months.
