Proud to support the hard work and dedication of those who make hockey happen, RBC has announced 16 RBC Play Hockey grant recipients, spanning seven provinces from British Columbia to Newfoundland & Labrador. RBC Play Hockey is a wide-ranging, multi-year commitment aimed at supporting hockey at the grassroots level in communities across Canada.

Among the recipients, Slave Lake Minor Hockey Association was awarded a grant of $25,000 and free financial advice as part of the RBC Play Hockey initiative.

After a fire tore through the Town of Slave Lake, Alta., many were left with nothing – no home, no school, no possessions. While the town did not lose their hockey arena, many hockey families were affected by the fire. The Slave Lake Minor Hockey Association wants to ensure that each child will be able to play hockey by providing coaching clinics, goalie camps and help with registration costs.

“From pick-up road hockey to shinny, from community hockey to major junior games, the sport is still very much a part of our lives,” said Andy Shibata, head of brand marketing for RBC. “Through the RBC Play Hockey program, we support the people and organizations that keep local hockey alive and vibrant in communities across the country.”

To date, RBC has provided more than $1,000,000 in grants to hockey programs across North America – ranging from learn-to-skate, ball hockey and equipment-sharing programs to reduced registration, access to ice and hockey clinic initiatives.

Below is the complete list of 2012 RBC Play Hockey grant recipients in Canada ($25,000 each):

Comité des Jeunes de la Louisiane | Montreal, Que.
Don Mills Civitan Hockey League | Toronto, Ont.
Easter Seals Newfoundland & Labrador | Newfoundland & Labrador
Grand Prairie Minor Hockey Association | Grand Prairie, Alta.
Hockey Féminin Outaouais | Gatineau, Que.
Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon | Saskatoon, Sask.
North and South Esk Regional School | Sunny Corner, N.B.
Pioneer Park Public School | Kitchener, Ont.
Renfrew Minor Hockey Association | Renfrew, Ont.
Richmond Minor Hockey Association | Richmond, B.C.
Slave Lake Minor Hockey Association | Slave Lake, Alta.
SouthEnd Minor Hockey Association | Ottawa, Ont.
Surrey School District | Surrey, B.C.
Thunder Bay Accessible Sport Council | Thunder Bay, Ont.
Tillsonburg Minor Hockey Inc. | Tillsonburg, Ont.
West Hill Minor Hockey Association | Scarborough, Ont.

RBC is committed to helping hockey happen in communities across Canada. As a premier partner of Hockey Canada, RBC is an official sponsor of Canada’s national teams, the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, and Canada’s National Junior A Championship – the RBC Cup. RBC sponsors amateur sport in communities across Canada, from grassroots programs to national sport associations and elite-level athletes.

For more information, visit rbcplayhockey.com.