History 1999 – 2000
1999
Norm Flynn, a former WHL hockey player, has a dream. He wants to provide an opportunity for disadvantaged kids from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to play hockey.He develops an idea and starts a foundation called H.E.R.O.S. – the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society. He assembles an advisory board of hockey lovers, both children and peers.
Flynn and his friend and fellow board member Casey McCawley travel to New York City to investigate a similar program, Ice Hockey In Harlem. While in New York, they visit the NHL head office in Manhattan. H.E.R.O.S. is invited to become a Canadian affiliate of the NHL Diversity Program.
Flynn and McCawley are very impressed with the Harlem program and the children’s enthusiastic response. The two immediately return home to augment the H.E.R.O.S. program with all their newly acquired information.
The H.E.R.O.S. concept is presented to and accepted by the Vancouver School Board. A task force of teachers, youth and family workers begins selecting interested students who will benefit most from the program. The VSB chooses participants from five elementary schools near Britannia Community Centre where the program will run.
CIBC Wood Gundy at Park Place in Vancouver provides H.E.R.O.S. with its first major donation: $25,000, enough for the entire first year of operations.
Flynn does more fundraising to cover the cost of ice rentals, liability insurance, printing, advertising, supplies, sticks, jerseys, phone service, storage and equipment trucking. The NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund donates all of the equipment.
With the support of sponsors, volunteer H.E.R.O.S. staff and board members, Flynn and his team are well on their way to making the H.E.R.O.S. dream a reality.
2000
- The summer of 2000 marks the first H.E.R.O.S. Summer Camp. Forty-five children take part in a fun-filled, five-day summer camp.
This is followed by a winter program of weekly, three-hour sessions starting in late fall. - The H.E.R.O.S. Behaviour Program is introduced at twice-monthly afternoon sessions to encourage positive behaviour and develop essential life skills.
- H.E.R.O.S. partners with the Vancouver Canucks, the local NHL hockey team, to create awareness of the importance of literacy.
- H.E.R.O.S. hosts its first annual Christmas party. For many of the children, this is their only Christmas celebration.
- H.E.R.O.S. caps off the end of the season with its first annual awards celebration. Certificates and awards are given to each HERO to recognize their commitment and achievement.
