Roberval Hockeyville

The story of a great success...

This story started with the creation, in 2005, within the context of the 150th anniversary of the City of Roberval, of a village on the Saint-Jean Lake. Original and novel, this village on the lake would become a yearly gathering now bringing together more than 300 little houses set up by individuals who, from January to March, gear up for a season of winter fun.

At the end of 2007, Roger Morin, a Roberval resident, learns about the contest thanks to a Kraft Canada publicity on a product used by his wife. It talks about a pan-Canadian contest taking place every year, with municipalities applying to win the title of Hockeyville (the best Canadian hockey municipality). Very quickly, Roberval is registered and the process begins. The contest is organized by Kraft Canada and CBC Sports, the anglophone counterpart to Radio-Canada.

While setting up Roberval's Village on Ice, in January 2008, the organizers learn that their application has been received and retained. Not long after, Roberval learns that it has been chosen as one of the ten finalists in the country. The event then takes on enormous proportions and the volunteers don't lose any time getting to work.

On January 20th, 2008, Roberval welcomes a CBC cameracrew that would be filming in the municipalities named in the ten finalists and that would then be put up for popular vote in order to be named as one of the five finalists. The event is well-prepared and the cameracrew is surprised by the magnitude of the phenomenon. Then, after the broadcast of the information about the different municipalities in contention, phone and internet voting starts. On February 17th, 2008, Roberval learns that it is one of the five finalists. 

The colors of Roberval's Village on Ice change and become more pronounded. Roberval must be the best Canadian hockey municipality and each resident does his part.

In order to prepare the final vote which will determine the winner, a new CBC cameracrew comes to Roberval on March 1st, 2008, when the village is proudly displaying its colors and its wish to win the much coveted title. The pan-Canadian vote would take take from March 29th to April 5th, and Roberval would be voting massively. 

On March 27th, during a press conference, the organizers invite the population of Québec and Canada to support Roberval's Village on Ice bid.

The results are unveiled on the evening of Tuesday, April 8th, 2008. Roberval is awarded the title of Hockeyville 2008 with close to 2.2 million votes. 

People are ecstatic. Roberval gets $100,000 for the renovation of the arena as well as the right to host a pre-season National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens, game that will take place on September 23rd, 2008. 

What a story! What a display of energy! The implication of the volunteers is phenomenal in a city with 11,000 residents, known as the world capital of open water swimming. With its Hockeyville title, Roberval is now broadening its niche to include the four seasons...

Congratulations to all the volunteers !

Congratulations to all the organizers !

Thank you to everyone who voted for us !

Roberval is now

HOCKEYVILLE