On Monday October 29, TELUS Vancouver Community Board Member and Olympian, Diane Clement presented the staff and students of the Britannia Hockey Academy (BHA) with an $18,000 donation during a ceremonial puck drop. The TELUS Vancouver Community Board has donated funds to the BHA program as part of their local community giving, which focuses on educating and empowering youth to improve their quality of life and to enable them to reach their full potential.

The Britannia Hockey Academy (BHA) is the Vancouver School Board's first sport-specific academy whose goal is to empower youth of all backgrounds and hockey levels with the opportunity to enhance their ice hockey skills and fitness. Students in the program develop comprehensive knowledge of the sport of ice hockey; including tactics, strategies, officiating and coaching while learning how to balance ice hockey specific knowledge and training with a high school program of academics, arts and athletics.

"The TELUS Vancouver Community Board is pleased that their support of the Britannia Hockey Academy will help make a difference in the lives of many of our city's youth," said Clement. "We are excited this gift from the TELUS Vancouver Community Board has enabled the BHA to continue their commitment in fostering the health and well-being in our community."

Britannia Hockey Academy students receive on-ice instruction, off-ice training and classroom lessons with an assortment of field-studies to compliment the curriculum.

"With the financial and community support by organizations such as TELUS, the sky's the limit for these youth," says Tatomir, "Or, as we like to say, you may enter this program like a cub, but you will leave with the Roar of a Bruin!"