Magical, inspiring, and incredibly special were just a few of the words shared with council and staff this week to describe the municipal recreation event held on Monday evening, January 19, at the CLC in Guysborough.
The celebration honoured Kendall Doiron of Boylston, whose dedication and talent recently took her to the world stage as a member of Team Canada at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The evening also welcomed Kendall’s teammate, goaltender Rowan Houweling, making the night even more memorable for local fans.
The event opened with a meet and greet, where Kendall and Rowan spent time with residents and visitors, signing jerseys, photos, posters, hats, and even a very memorable Caramilk bar. Fans of all ages were thrilled to meet the athletes, share photos, and congratulate them in person.
As the celebration moved to the ice, bagpipers welcomed Kendall and Rowan onto the CLC ice surface, a Nova Scotia tradition that helped make a truly special moment. Holly Pyle led the welcome on the bagpipes, followed by O'Canada, sung by Kyle Delorey.
Welcoming remarks and congratulations were then shared by Warden Paul Long and MLA Greg Morrow, both of whom had the opportunity to watch Kendall compete live in Sydney during the tournament. Friends and supporters also took part in recognizing Kendall's achievements, including Ainslee Connolly, Ava-Belle Martins, and Maggie Snow.
The evening continued with skating and shinny hockey, as Kendall and Rowan joined fans on the ice, surrounded by Canadian flags waving in celebration. With snow, smiles, and laughter in the air and “Heave Away” playing in the background, the event captured everything the CLC was envisioned to represent - connection, community pride, and shared celebration. The shinny rink itself even earned a lighthearted moment of national attention ahead of the event, after Hockey Canada shared a feature in which “Stowbie” on Instagram described the CLC outdoor rink as the “sickest outdoor rink in NS,” sparking plenty of smiles across the community.
Thank you to Kendall and Rowan for taking the time to meet with residents and inspire the next generation of athletes. Your presence and achievements are a powerful reminder of the opportunities that open up when youth are encouraged to dream big and pursue their goals. Monday evening was more than a celebration of athletic excellence. It was a celebration of community spirit and local pride that will be remembered for a long time throughout the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.