QUEBEC CITY – The Canadiens Children’s Foundation inaugurated on Tuesday, in Quebec, the 15th outdoor, refrigerated, multi-sport rink of its BLEU BLANC BOUGE program. Around forty young residents of the neighborhood attending Sacré-Cœur primary school and Cardinal-Roy secondary school were the first to hit the ice, accompanied by several former Canadiens players, some of whom were from the Capitale-Nationale or had played hockey in the area.
Located in Victoria Park, at the junction of the Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Roch districts in the La Cité-Limoilou district, this new BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rink is of a size equivalent to that of an NHL regulation rink. In addition to having boards and players’ benches adapted to the practice of para hockey, thus guaranteeing universal accessibility, the infrastructure is equipped with a highly energy-efficient refrigeration system powered by CO2, making it possible to extend the ice period . In order to protect the surface from bad weather throughout the seasons, the City of Quebec chose to erect a permanent wooden roof above the ice rink. The project also includes the construction of a services pavilion which will include changing rooms, toilets and an equipment loan counter. Work on the latter will be completed in summer 2025.
“We are very proud to inaugurate today a 15th BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rink in Quebec City and thus contribute to building a more active and healthy future for generations to come. This new sports platform will allow all young people, regardless of their socio-economic situation, to move throughout the year and practice their favorite sporting activities on safe and quality facilities,” said Geoff Molson, owner, president and CEO of the Canadian Hockey Club.
“It has now been 16 years since the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program has been deployed across Quebec, allowing the Canadiens Children’s Foundation to be among the main actors of change for the health of disadvantaged young people in the province. By offering less well-off communities better access to accessible and sustainable sports and recreational infrastructures, we are pleased to give an equal opportunity to all children to discover the importance and pleasure of being active and healthy. added Pierre Boivin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadiens Children’s Foundation. “The visionary choice to equip these outdoor rinks with refrigeration systems that we made in 2009 is now proving essential due to the growing challenges posed by climate change. These facilities not only extend the winter season, but also ensure that the community can fully benefit from it, regardless of weather conditions. The legacy of this 15th rink is a milestone that demonstrates our long-term commitment to the well-being and future of young people across Quebec. »
“The BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rink in Quebec City will become a real crossroads for meetings and exchanges where young people will be able to meet, skate, have fun, and perhaps even nurture the dream of one day playing on the ice of the grown-ups. Through sports, we transmit to our young people essential values for their future, such as perseverance and surpassing oneself. By investing in multi-purpose infrastructure, we promote the development of sport and ensure its accessibility for all. With this new facility, we offer children and families in the area the opportunity to practice physical activities all year round, thus enriching their quality of life,” rejoiced the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand.
A front-line partner of the Foundation, Desjardins Securities has contributed since 2001 to the cause of children in need by financially supporting projects such as the construction and activation of the BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rinks. “Our collaboration with the Canadiens Children’s Foundation has continued for 23 years now,” declared David Lemieux, vice-president and general manager of Desjardins Securities. “I am particularly proud of the commitment of our wealth managers who, this January 14, choose to donate their commissions for the day to help children realize their dreams, demonstrating their desire to build a better future. Like a hockey team that gives everything for every point, it is crucial to provide young people with quality sports facilities throughout the year. This partnership has resulted in nearly $10 million in donations, and we are committed to continuing to help our community. »
The Canadiens Children’s Foundation also counts on the support of well-established businesses in the regions where the rinks are located. In order to contribute to the future and the development of youth, Harnois Énergies has chosen to contribute $50,000 to the deployment of the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program in Quebec. “As physical activity is essential for physical, mental and social development, it is only natural for Harnois Énergies to continue its involvement with the Canadiens Children’s Foundation. We want to promote the development of young people by encouraging young people to fill up on energy,” declared Serge Harnois, President and CEO of Harnois Énergies. The company also supported the construction of the BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rinks in Joliette, Val-d’Or and Saint-Jérôme, inaugurated in 2020, 2021 and 2024 respectively.
Fifteen BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rinks have been built across the province since 2009. Real places for entertainment, meetings and physical activity, these sports and recreational areas allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to discover the advantages of a method of healthy and physically active life. To ensure the success of its program, the Foundation benefits from the support of M361, which supports it in the selection of the environment and community partners in order to ensure the development of effective activation of the places and the measurement of the impact of the program.
Selected in the fall of 2022, the La Cité-Limoilou district of Quebec is distinguished by a high concentration of young families and schools, both primary and secondary, in sectors marked by a high deprivation index. The need for local and accessible sports infrastructure remains significant, especially since physical activity serves as a lever for school perseverance among many vulnerable young people in the surrounding area. The strong mobilization of local community partners, such as Patro Laval, Patro Roc-Amadour and Motivaction Jeunesse, in favor of healthy lifestyle habits for children aged 4 to 17 was a determining factor in the selection of the city. of Quebec to host a BLEU BLANC BOUGE ice rink. These efforts demonstrate local commitment to encouraging youth participation in sporting activities and improving their health.
About the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program
Built to the standards of a National Hockey League regulation ice rink, BLEU BLANC BOUGE rinks offer ice quality reaching professional standards and the versatility necessary for the practice of other disciplines throughout the seasons. While the ice period extends from the end of November to mid-March, various other sports such as ball hockey, basketball and soccer as well as several sporting activities are practiced there from spring to fall. The donation of this infrastructure is accompanied by 100 pairs of skates, 100 helmets and 100 hockey sticks that young people will be able to borrow from the ice rink.
The Foundation’s flagship project since 2009, the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program now has 15 outdoor, refrigerated and multi-sport rinks to its credit. Six rinks were built in disadvantaged neighborhoods of the City of Montreal, while the other nine are located in Longueuil, Laval, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Joliette, Val-d’Or, Saguenay, Saint-Jérôme and now Quebec. This summer, the Foundation will begin the construction of a 16th infrastructure which will be inaugurated next winter in the city of Sorel-Tracy.
About the Canadiens Children’s Foundation
The Canadiens Children’s Foundation encourages physical activity and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 4 to 17. Since its creation in 2000, it has invested more than $48.8 million in the community through its BLEU BLANC BOUGE program and donations to more than 900 organizations working for the well-being of vulnerable children across Quebec. The Foundation achieves its mission in two ways: through the implementation of its unique flagship project, which consists of building and activating refrigerated and multi-sport community rinks; then, by providing financial support to organizations helping children adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. To learn more, visit foundation.canadiens.com.
