It’s a celebration in Armstrong.
The city known for its agriculture, lacrosse and cheese, and home to the legendary Interior Provincial Exhibition, is the 2011 Kraft Celebration Tour B.C. leg winner, having defeated the Kootenay community of Creston in an online voting contest Monday and Tuesday.
A large crowd gathered at the Nor-Val Centre Tuesday afternoon for the announcement of the B.C. winner on TSN.
Armstrong’s victory means TSN will show up next month to broadcast its popular Sportscentre show from somewhere in community, in all likelihood someplace on the IPE grounds near the Hassen Arena, which also benefits from Armstrong’s victory.
The aging arena will get $25,000 in upgrades courtesy of Kraft.
It’s a building that has hosted some of the greatest, fiercest lacrosse battles in the region. It is used yearly by the IPE. Roller derby, like lacrosse, has attracted sell-out crowds in the venerable building. Many residents learned to skate and play hockey in the Hassen before the Nor-Val Sports Centre opened a few years ago.
Why Armstrong won was because of the community and its neighbours, both near and far. Many people took time out of their day to vote online for Armstrong, voting as many times as they liked. It shows there is a great deal of care and love for the aging arena which needs fixing up.
Congratulations to the organizing committee for its efforts in bringing the matter to the public’s attention, via the media and social networks.
TSN will be in for North Okanagan hospitality next month as the Kraft tour is celebrated in Armstrong.
– Vernon Morning Star
