Winnipeg Jets’ whiteout parties raise $100K for 4 charities in city

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Peggy

Four community organizations are sharing the $100,000 raised during the Winnipeg Jets’ brief playoff run in spring.

The money came from the whiteout street parties held outside Canada Life Centre during the Jets’ home games in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Behind the flurry of thousands of white jerseys and cheering fans exists a tremendous partnership between two local organizations — the United Way Winnipeg and True North Sports and Entertainment, said Donna Miller, United Way Winnipeg’s board chair.

“By partnering and working so well together, our two organizations make a mighty force for good.”

Tickets for the sold-out parties were $10, with $5 from each going to United Way Winnipeg, “creating a ripple effect far beyond the energy and excitement of those whiteout parties,” Miller said.

Just three parties were held, though. The Jets won the first game in the best-of-seven series against the Colorado Avalanche, then lost the next four and were eliminated from the post-season.

People clad in white for whiteout party — The whiteout street parties alongside Canada Life Centre attracted more than 15,000 people over three games. Another 5,000 gathered at True North Square for the Party in the Plaza. (Arturo Chang/CBC)

Still, the parties attracted more than 15,000 people in that time, while another 5,000 gathered at True North Square for the Party in the Plaza, said True North’s Kevin Donnelly.

The money raised for charity will help people facing homelessness and hunger as well as mental health and addictions issues, he said.

“At True North we … view it as a responsibility to give back and find meaningful ways to support this community, which the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose call home,” Donelly said.

Through the United Way, four organizations will each get $25,000: the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, N’Dinewemak-Our Relatives’ Place, Siloam Mission and Main Street Project.

“These organizations make sure Winnipeggers aren’t alone during some of the toughest times of their lives,” said Michael Richardson, president and CEO of United Way Winnipeg. “These funds will make a significant impact.”

A man in short hair and eyeglasses stands at a microphone and podium. — Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel says he hopes the team can extend its playoff runs in seasons to come and increase the amount of funding for community organizations. (Justin Fraser/CBC)

Scott Arniel, who was appointed the Jets’ head coach at the end of May, said he couldn’t be prouder to be part of a team and community that shows up for one another.

“Being part of the original Jets whiteout back in the ’80s, it was an exciting part of my personal hockey story. It’s exciting to see that this tradition not only lives but has grown tremendously,” he said, stressing his own strong ties to the city.

Arniel was drafted as an 18-year-old NHL rookie by the first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets and later served as captain and then head coach of the Manitoba Moose. His wife is from Winnipeg, and their kids were raised in the city.

“We hope to be able to play a role in helping move this froward in seasons to come, and we’d like that party to last not just one week or two weeks, we want it to last two months so that we have lots of time [to raise more money],” he said.

Jamil Mahmood, executive director of Main Street Project, said True North helps groups like his in less conspicuous but significant ways during playoff time.

Quietly, behind the scenes, the organization makes sure every shelter in the city is able to throw a whiteout party in its own buildings, by providing pizza and merchandise and access to the game broadcasts.

“True North doesn’t promote that part, but it’s a big part of celebrating that culture of hockey and what the whiteout parties mean in all of our spaces for all of our community members,” Mahmood said.

A man in short dark hair and eyeglasses, wearing a button-up collared shirt, speaks into a microphone. — Jamil Mahmood, executive director of Main Street Project, says True North makes sure there are whiteout parties at the city’s shelters. (Justin Fraser/CBC)

As for the $25,000, it couldn’t come at a better time, he said.

“This is probably one of the hardest times our city’s ever faced, in terms of the situation around homelessness, toxic drug supply [and] mental health challenges that we’ve seen,” Mahmood said.

“This is a time where we all need to come together and … funding like this really gives us the support we need on the front lines to be able to do the work that supports our most vulnerable citizens.”