John Wilson is chair of the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society
VICTORIA – Hosting a celebration of hockey created almost $4 million in economic activity in our region. Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada took place in Victoria’s Inner Harbour from Jan. 17-20, but planning and preparation began almost a year before, and the benefits will be felt in our region for years to come.
The Destination International Economic Impact Report from the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission has calculated the total economic impact at $3,985,375. The event also supported 2,369 jobs and generated $627,025 in taxes.
“We knew that Greater Victoria really came together for a super successful celebration of hockey and community, but these numbers show that hosting events like this benefit everyone,” Victoria Hockey Legacy Society chair John Wilson said. “I’m thankful for the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission for crunching the numbers, and excited to see how our destination continues to benefit from the excellent exposure we received on Sportsnet.”
Upwards of 20,000 people visited Ship Point during the main event, the Alumni Game sold out Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and the Gala Banquet packed the Victoria Conference Centre’s largest room.
On Jan. 20, Sportsnet’s 13-hour broadcast was viewed by 8.5 million Canadians. At any moment, almost 800,000 people were tuned in to watch Canadian teams, while a panel featuring Ron MacLean, Jennifer Botterill, David Amber, Kevin Bieksa and others anchored the coverage from the Inner Harbour.
“There is a power in sports that goes far beyond the confines of an arena or playing field,” Sport Tourism Commission Executive Director Keith Wells said. “We’re always working on opportunities for sport to add vitality to our region, and the commission looks forward to working with John and the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society on future endeavors.”
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2024 focused on making sure everyone felt welcomed celebrating Canada’s sport. Proceeds from the event helped the Courtnall Society for Mental Health, which promotes understanding of mental health through awareness and education
The Victoria Hockey Legacy Society partnered with Sportsnet, Scotiabank, the Province of British Columbia, City of Victoria and Destination Greater Victoria to produce the event, which was also made possible by lead local sponsors Roundhouse at Bayview, author Helen Edwards and the Fairmont Empress, along with a myriad of other businesses and organizations.
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