By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The “Warriors of Truth” hockey game has been “benched,” with baseball taking its place for the annual event held around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The ongoing renovations to replace the concrete slab and other upgrades at the Oliver Arena scuttled the hockey game for this year.
The Town of Oliver’s recreation department made the announcement this week that in collaboration with the Osoyoos Indian Band, Oliver and District Recreation is excited to host a new event “Community to Community – a Baseball Game” on Friday Sept. 27.
Recreation Supervisor Katie Hadwin commented that “the event should be a fun alternative to the previously popular ‘Warriors of Truth’ hockey games. Collaboration with the OIB has been fun and I am excited for our communities to get outside and enjoy the ball diamonds with their peers and neighbours”.
The baseball tournament is open to youth aged 9-12 with the recreation department saying it is “an opportunity to foster camaraderie, friendship and the spirit of sport between Osoyoos Indian Band, Town of Oliver and [RDOS] Area C youth.”
Spectators are encouraged to come watch, mingle, and cheer on the players. Lawn games and Tee Ball will be set up on Diamond 1. Spectators can purchase (cash only) food on-site while supplies last.
The recreation department noted the event is made possible through an ongoing partnership between the Osoyoos Indian Band, and recreation department staff.
Each registered player will be provided with food and a commemorative orange ribbon with all registered players to be entered in a prize draw for a prize (must be present to win).
Oliver’s event partners from the OIB – Talon Babtiste and Melissa Gabriel also expressed their excitement at the sporting changeup this year. “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work together with . . . [the Oliver Recreation department] and to participate in an event such as this.
“We are honoured that our communities are coming together to acknowledge Truth and Reconciliation in this way, and we hope to see many new faces and to continue to build stronger inter-community connections going forward.
“We want the Community to know that events like this are what make communities thrive, paving the way for future generations to be able to come together and make fun, lasting memories,” the two added.
The event will take place on Friday Sept. 27, 4 p.m. at Diamond 2 in the Oliver Community Park. Registration can be done online or by phone at 250-498-4985.
