by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Social media has been busy the past few days encouraging people to Vote for Cobden Arena!
The voting is on Sunday, March 12 and Monday, March 13 at www.khv2017.ca
The idea is to get the most votes through social media for a chance to win $100,000 for the Astrolabe Arena.
The arena made it into the top 10, earning $25,000. Now, it needs votes only on two days for one of two chances to win $100,000.
Ted Barron noted there are 2,940 arenas in Canada and Cobden made it into the top 10. Now, there are five arenas from the east and five from the west that are vying for the top prize. In the east, there are two from Ontario, Cobden and Collingwood, with the other three from the east coast, he said.
The Grand Prize winning community will receive the Kraft Hockeyville title and the opportunity to host a 2017 NHL® Pre-Season Hockey Game, in addition to the $100,000 for arena upgrades.
“Spread the word and vote on March 12 and 13,” Mr. Barron encouraged.
With $100,000 the arena could be made accessible to everyone, Mr. Barron said.
Chris Pleau has been spearheading the nomination and has been successful in getting electronic signboard owners to put vote Cobden Arena on them, he said.
“It’s on signs from Cobden, to Renfrew, to Arnprior to Deep River,” he said. “If you know of anyone who has a sign, ask them to put Vote Cobden Arena on it.”
Legal residents of Canada 13 years of age and older can begin voting for their favourite Top 10 Entry for a period beginning on Sunday March 12 at 9 a.m. and closing on Monday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Mr. Barron said more than one million votes will be needed to win.
“If you have nothing to do, sit at your computer and vote and vote and vote,” he said. “Let’s make our arena accessible to everyone.”
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used for voting. The Cobden nomination has an official Facebook page: “Cobden for Kraft Hockeyville.” On Twitter, @Hockeyville will be supporting this initiative as well.
Generate awareness of this two-day voting by using personal Facebook accounts, local hockey association’s page and community pages to generate awareness.
The Cobden Astrolabe Arena is seeking to improve the facility so it is more accessible and inclusive to the entire community.
Remember, the voting round is at www.khv2017.ca starting on Sunday, March 12 at 9 a.m. and closing on Monday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m.