Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells has the confidence of an experienced hockey coach heading into the final stretch of the Kraft Hockeyville contest.
“We’ve done very well to be whittled down to the final 15 communities in Canada, but there’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to make the final five,” said Wells, following Monday’s regular meeting of council.
The public was invited to a “mass voting event” to help Osoyoos advance to the final five on Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Sonora Community Centre in Osoyoos.
Computers were set up at the centre and participants were encouraged to vote over and over again.
Wells and members of council were thrilled Osoyoos had made the final 15, following the official announcement on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night.
Hockey fans from across Canada were able to vote on final submissions forwarded by the top 15 communities  until Tuesday at midnight (Eastern Standard Time).
Cathy Martins, the local hockey fanatic who has spearheaded the local campaign over the past two months, said she was thrilled Osoyoos was named to the final 15.
“It’s super exciting and I’m so happy,” said Martins. “I’ve told everyone … all my friends and family across Canada.”
The Kraft Hockeyville contest is exceptional because it allows small towns like Osoyoos to gain national recognition, said Wells.
“It gets me really excited about small town Canada,” he said. “I’m hoping a small town is going to win the contest and obviously I’m hoping that small town is Osoyoos. This is a truly Canadian endeavour.”
Wells was hopeful hundreds of local residents would vote “over and over again” to ensure Osoyoos is named to the final five two weeks from now.
After receiving thousands of impressive submissions from passionate hockey communities across the country, the Kraft Hockeyville 2012 judging panel narrowed the list of hopefuls to 15 communities that best exemplify communnity spirit, passion for hockey and originality.
Osoyoos joined other B.C. communities Campbell River and West Kelowna to make the final 15. Other towns selected for the national finals included Tuelon, Manitoba, Duck Lake, Sask., Rosthern, Sask., Stirling, Ont., Goderich, Ont., Bancroft, Ont., Amos, Que., Chicoutimi, Que, Pownal, P.E.I., Yarmouth, N.S. and St. Andrews, N.B.
“It’s truly inspiring to see so many hockey-loving Canadians rally together in creative ways to improve their communities,” said Jack Hewitt, Vice President of Marketing Services, Kraft Canada. “In the seven years that we’ve had Kraft Hockeyville, we’ve never seen such passion and creativity as demonstrated by these 15 finalists. We wish each community the best of luck in the next round!”
Canadians determined which of the Top 15 will make it into the Top 5 by voting for their favourite community via the following official voting mechanisms – online at www.krafthockeyville.ca or by calling 1-866-533-8066. Voting via the web and phone was unlimited.
Voting for the Top 5 communities opened Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. and closed Tuesday night.
Once the votes have been tallied, the Top 5 communities will be announced on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, March 17.
Canadians will then return to the polls for a final vote to determine the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2012.
On Saturday, March 31, 2012, crews from Hockey Night in Canada will visit and broadcast live from each of the Top 5 communities. The winner will be announced live that night.
The winning community will host a 2012-13 NHL pre-season game and receive $100,000 in arena upgrades courtesy of Kraft Canada.
The four runner-up communities will each receive $25,000 for improvements to their local rinks from Kraft Canada.