Web Notifications

SaltWire.com would like to send you notifications for breaking news alerts.

Activate notifications?

Helping hands: Church assists seniors with Hockeyville voting

O’LEARY, P.E.I. - Amy Platts was watching over Anne Phillips’ shoulder Monday afternoon at the O’Leary Christian Education Centre in O’Leary.

Raymond Wilson, left, gets an introduction to online voting Monday at the O’Leary Christian Education Centre. A voting station was set up there for the day to give seniors and anyone who does not have a computer an opportunity to vote O’Leary for Hockeyville. Rick Cameron guides the first-time computer user through the process.
Raymond Wilson, left, gets an introduction to online voting Monday at the O’Leary Christian Education Centre. A voting station was set up there for the day to give seniors and anyone who does not have a computer an opportunity to vote O’Leary for Hockeyville. Rick Cameron guides the first-time computer user through the process.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS

Calling Chard: asparagus and leek risotto with chicken | SaltWire

Watch on YouTube: "Calling Chard: asparagus and leek risotto with chicken | SaltWire"

Phillips was clicking buttons on a computer screen and casting votes for O’Leary to become Kraft Hockeyville 2017.

Voting opened Sunday at 10 a.m. and was remaining open until 12:59 a.m. Tuesday. Ten communities across the country are in the running for the Hockeyville title – O’Leary is the only one from the Maritimes.

“I’ve been voting, but I don’t understand how to do it by myself,” Platts confessed.

She said she wants to contribute to O’Leary’s chances and would be thrilled if her votes helped push O’Leary over the top.

Platts was awaiting a little more instruction so that she could click by herself.

Phillips said she’d love to know the total votes being cast.

That, however, is part of the suspense.

The sponsors of Kraft Hockeyville will release the results Saturday night during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on CBC.

The community with the highest number of votes in the east will then go head-to-head against the highest ranked community in western Canada for one final round of voting.

Marjorie MacKay arrived at the Christian Education Centre around 11:15 a.m. Monday and was thinking of staying until the makeshift voting station closed at 5 p.m. She’d lost track of the number of times she voted. MacKay regretted that, unlike the last time O’Leary was in the Hockeyville competition in 2006, telephone voting is not being permitted.

Phillips was clicking buttons on a computer screen and casting votes for O’Leary to become Kraft Hockeyville 2017.

Voting opened Sunday at 10 a.m. and was remaining open until 12:59 a.m. Tuesday. Ten communities across the country are in the running for the Hockeyville title – O’Leary is the only one from the Maritimes.

“I’ve been voting, but I don’t understand how to do it by myself,” Platts confessed.

She said she wants to contribute to O’Leary’s chances and would be thrilled if her votes helped push O’Leary over the top.

Platts was awaiting a little more instruction so that she could click by herself.

Phillips said she’d love to know the total votes being cast.

That, however, is part of the suspense.

The sponsors of Kraft Hockeyville will release the results Saturday night during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on CBC.

The community with the highest number of votes in the east will then go head-to-head against the highest ranked community in western Canada for one final round of voting.

Marjorie MacKay arrived at the Christian Education Centre around 11:15 a.m. Monday and was thinking of staying until the makeshift voting station closed at 5 p.m. She’d lost track of the number of times she voted. MacKay regretted that, unlike the last time O’Leary was in the Hockeyville competition in 2006, telephone voting is not being permitted.

“Why did they not do that, just because it’s a high-tech age, I’d say,” she continued, answering her own question.

“Because there is no phone voting this time, it kind of leaves out a lot of our seniors and those who don’t have a computer at home,” said Rev. Bethe Benjamin Cameron in explaining why the O’Leary West Cape Pastoral Charge offered a voting station for seniors. More than 40 had stopped in by early afternoon.

“So many were so pleased they had an opportunity to vote and be part of this community because this community is important to them. And they have lots of memories of being at the rink,” said the United Church minister.

It was congregation member Sally Betts who suggested such a voting opportunity for seniors. “They are the ones who would want to vote for the community the most; they’ve been here the longest.

“Everyone was like, ‘I was wondering how I was going to vote’ ” Betts said.

Verna Wedlock and Florence MacNevin were propping up their tablets with hymn books and Bibles.

MacNevin had been voting from home.

“So I thought I’d come in here for a change.”

Wedlock said it would be wonderful if the rink wins the grand prize.

[email protected]

Share story:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT