Some upset over N.S. hockey tournament change of venue
The Riverview Red Cup, a popular high school hockey tournament in Cape Breton, will soon have a new home for the first time in more than four decades.
The event is one of the most prestigious high school sporting events in the Maritimes. It typically attracts thousands of people to the Sydney-area and creates an atmosphere both the players and community look forward to each year.
A spokesperson for the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education says the tournament will move from the older County Arena in Coxheath, N.S. to a much more modern facility in the Membertou Sports and Wellness Centre.
In an email, they say the move is being made to provide an accessible facility for athletes and fans.
Some say they are worried the change will take away from what the tournament is known for.
“To me - it's disappointing. I think we could've had a discussion about some of the challenges they faced, and we have over the years, and I think we've met those challenges,” says Paul MacDonald the manager of facilities for the CBRM, which operates County Arena. ”I think it's a safe building. We've never had any concerns from anybody, and if we have we've dealt with them and adapted to them. I'm very confident we could host this event easily and safely at the County Arena.”
But Riverview High School is advocating for the construction of closer adequate athletic and recreational facilities for students. They say suitable facilities would enable Riverview to host superlative high school athletic tournaments in all sports for years to come.
For now, some think it is the wrong move.
“They're 16, 17, 18-year-old kids and they're allowed to have fun - and they're just taking that away from them,” says hockey fan Brent Desveaux. “We all know the mystic of the Red Cup with Riverview High School, that's what kids strive for after Christmas. They're basically taking it all away from them. They can have a Red Cup at Membertou, but it won't be the same.”
Paul MacDonald says the municipality would still be willing to have a discussion about bringing the tournament back to County Arena in the future.
The event is set to begin Feb. 3rd.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.