Village of Veteran CAO Debbie Johnstone and representatives from Veteran Minor Sports met with Nadine Dalheim, President of the East Central Striders Speed Skating Club (VP Club) and Membership Development for the Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association (AASSA) on May  13 at the Village town office.

The Village of Veteran will be the first in the region to begin a skating club of this nature.

“The CAO and Council are very excited for the opportunity to begin a speed skating club in Veteran and wish Veteran Minor Sports success with this endeavour.”

“It’s a real advantage for the children in the area,” said Johnstone.

They are in the beginning stages. 

The first step is to find out the interest among the parents and the children.

Speed skating is family friendly, gender neutral and for all ages.  

Rather than competing with hockey, speed skating is offered as a complementing sport as a way for players to better their skating ability and offering more ice and coaching time.  

Discussion during the meeting involved fees, ice time, coaching, equipment needed as well as sources of funding available for new clubs.

 Dalheim advised that AASSA’s role in new club development ranges from offering support to access grant funds, advertising, coaching development and  temporary equipment and mats.

Nadine will be present at Veteran’s  Annual Sports Day on June 13 and have a table set up with speed skating information available.

Plans have been made to send out information to the schools in the area including tentative pricing, over the next few weeks.

Watch for ads and information in the local newspapers and school newsletters.