An Innu RCMP policeman on Thursday distributed hockey equipment to young people in the community of Pakua Shipi, in the Lower North Shore, who lost a comrade.
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Following the suicide of a 13-year-old teenager, Jency Mark Vallée, last February, the instigator of the project, Normand Thirnish-Pilot wanted to restore morale to the young people of this small community of 300 people. By offering them 25 full sets of players and two sets of goalkeepers, he hoped to rally them and bring them to be proud.
Many members of the community were present for the distribution of the material, including grandparents, parents and teachers. “There were a lot of emotions, a mixture of joy, happiness, but also a lot of tears. We held a minute’s silence for Jency and then handed over the equipment. It was an afternoon filled with love for the children, it was very beautiful to see. I will remember it for a long time, ”testified Normand Thirnish-Pilot.
The equipment was provided by the National Hockey League Players Association and local traders such as Sports Experts and Pêcheries Shipek provided the necessary accessories for the youngsters to play. Relais Nordik, for its part, assumed the transportation costs between Sept-Îles and Pakua Shipi.
Following the distribution, the young people were very proud to wear the equipment and were already planning to participate in a minor hockey tournament this winter in Trois-Rivières.