Chris Must
editorial@pdgmedia.ca

 

Who are the most famous people in Smiths Falls? Right now, according to Mayor Shawn Pankow, it’s probably the members of the Smiths Falls Pee Wee Bears team.

Having recently learned that they had been chosen as one of the three finalists in the running to win the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, the team and its coaches came to a Feb. 5 council meeting to drum up more local support for their bid to win the cup – and a possible $15,000 for their charity of choice.

“You guys are probably more famous than anyone in this community besides Brooke and Brittany (Henderson,)” said Mayor Shawn Pankow.

The Bears are planning to host a major outdoor barbecue and food drive at the outdoor Gerry Lowe Rink on the afternoon of Feb. 17, and are hoping to attract as many as 1,000 participants.

“What we have to prove to Chevrolet is that we have had an impact on our community, and that we have created community engagement,” said team manager Tina Hughes. “We are hoping it will be a sea of yellow and black.”

A drone will be used to film the event, and that video will be key to the team’s final push to win the cup. The team’s colours will also adorn parking meters downtown, with council’s approval. The town will also provide the team with a $500 grant to cover their expenses for the event.

Hughes  invited councillors and town staff to join forces to “go out and do your own good deed as a team.”

The team, made up of 14 boys and one girl aged 11 and 12, chose the Salvation Army as their favourite charity. They helped collect food, serve meals and man fundraising kettles. They produced a one-minute video describing this volunteer work in their bid to qualify for the Good Deeds Cup.

The team’s submission was chosen for the top 10 in the contest from among 136 videos sent in from across Canada, Hughes told councillors.

The Bears will find out if they have won the cup live on TSN on the evening of Feb. 26.

“Get it!” said Councillor Lorraine Allen. “We’ll be there to help you.”