Interview with Vance Badawey

Partial Transcript: So, born and raised here in Niagara, born and raised in Port Colborne. As a youngster, grew up as most if not many Canadian boys do—actually I shouldn’t say just boys—boys and girls, you know, playing hockey…

Segment Synopsis: Vance introduces himself before discussing how he played hockey at Garden City Arena and what the arena meant to the community. Vance played competitive hockey for 15 years in Port Colborne and would play at the Garden City Arena when playing in St. Catharines and he recalls how packed the arena was and the amazing atmosphere of the arena.

Keywords: Atmosphere; Childhood; Community; Facilities; Hockey -- Player; Junior A Athletics; Marcel Dionne; Nostalgia; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines Saints; St. Catharines TeePees; Tournaments

Subjects: Junior A Hockey; Junior B Hockey; Minor League Hockey

Partial Transcript: Absolutely. It’s like a house. You know, you buy a house, it’s a house and over time it becomes a home. And what the Garden City Arena had to its advantage was that time…

Segment Synopsis: Vance discusses the community aspect of the Garden City Arena and other arenas in Niagara, including the Westside Arena & Vale Centre. He refers to the Garden City Arena the newer arenas the “next generation of inspiration.”

Keywords: Canada Games Park; Community; Vale Health and Wellness Centre; Westside Arena

Subjects: Facilities

Partial Transcript: Not really. When I was Mayor, I was Mayor in Port Colborne so, you know, St. Catharines facility it really didn’t have an attachment to us. As an MP, same thing…

Segment Synopsis: Vance recalls the fun of the Garden City Arena before elaborating on the community aspect of it. He calls the Garden City Arena a community hub and discusses how Friday nights were when the St. Catharines Falcons played and how the community supported them. He then recalls his memory of when the Junior A Athletics won the Minto Cup at the Garden City Arena and how he got to hold it because his friend, Pierre, owned the team.

Keywords: Hockey -- player; Junior A Athletics; Minto Cup; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse; St. Catharines Falcons

Subjects: Community; Junior B Hockey; Lacrosse

Partial Transcript: Well one of the things that you get embedded in you when you’re an athlete, and I’m sure many other areas too, a dancer, an artist, even at work…

Segment Synopsis: Vance discusses the value of teamwork and how sports have the power to bring people together, especially hockey for Canadians.

Keywords: Family; Friendship; Sport -- Hockey; Sport -- Lacrosse

Subjects: Community

Partial Transcript: No, I don’t think so. No, I don’t— Even when the Saints were there, the Saints were in the American Hockey League, I think you still had your people that were very—they were very committed to all the teams…

Segment Synopsis: Vance talks about St. Catharine as a hockey city and the commitment of St. Catharines residents to their hockey teams. He discusses the different teams and players to play in St. Catharines and reiterates the importance of hockey to Canadians, how St. Catharines packed the Garden City Arena, and the aura of the “old barns” and hockey in Canada.

Keywords: AHL; Brian Bellows; Hockey -- Fan; Hockey -- player; Niagara IceDogs; Sport -- Hockey; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines Saints

Subjects: Facilities; Hockey; Junior A Hockey; Junior B Hockey; OHL Hockey

Partial Transcript: Yes. My dad was somewhat of a community builder. He was a hockey coach, very much involved with minor hockey, he coached the junior team at one time, he was asked to become a member of the board of the St. Catharines Saints so he spent some time there…

Segment Synopsis: Vance discusses his family’s hockey history, including his father’s role with the St. Catharines Saints, how his brother was drafted 3rd overall into the OHL, how he played hockey at North Dakota State University, and how his sisters played competitively on both girls and boys teams. Vance then discusses his passion of women’s hockey and recognizes the importance of women’s hockey trailblazers such as Hayley Wickenheiser and Cassie Campbell-Pascal.

Keywords: Cassie Campbell-Pascal; College Hockey; Family; Hayley Wickenheiser; Hockey -- fan; Hockey -- player; Kingston Canadians; OHL; Sport -- Hockey; St. Catharines Saints; Tournaments; Women's hockey

Subjects: Community; Hockey; Women and Gender