A Hockey Hall of Famer and a former NHL player turned broadcaster helped Portage College raise a lot of money for a new endowment fund. Former Winnipeg Jet great Dale Hawerchuk and former Boston Bruin and Hockey Night in Canada personality P.J. Stock headlined the College's 17th Annual Sports and Education Dinner April 1 in Lac La Biche. The pair shared entertaining stories about their careers with a sold-out crowd of 290 people and interacted with fans well into the night. The event helped the College raise $35,500 for the new Spirit of Community Partnerships Endowment, bringing the total fund amount to $118,500. The College hopes the fund will eventually reach $1 million.

"We are so grateful to our sponsors, our speakers, our entertainers, our auctioneer and everyone who attended for making this year's Sports and Education Dinner one of our best ever," said Portage College President and CEO Dr. Trent Keough. "They all contributed to a memorable evening and helped us kick-start an important endowment fund that will benefit young people for years to come."  

The Spirit of Community Partnerships Endowment is a newly-established fund aimed at fostering youth community involvement. Scholarships will be awarded to students who give back to their communities by volunteering and becoming role models for others.  

"Portage College has always invested in the amazing communities and people that we serve," said Dr. Keough. "The Spirit of Community Partnerships is a continuation of that legacy."  

"I can't say thank you enough to our fantastic volunteers, those who donated items and everyone who came out to support the College and the endowment," said Rick Flumian, Manager Community Relations, who did a masterful job organizing his first Sports & Education Dinner event. "It was a wonderful event. I'm already looking forward to next year!"

For more information, please contact Jaime Davies, Manager of Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-623-5581 - Cell: 780-404-9109 - Email