LITTLE CURRENT—OPP officer Mark Hovingh was known for his love of his community and the volunteer work that he contributed to Manitoulin. Constable Hovingh was slain during the line of duty four years ago, but his community service lives on in the work (and play) of his friends and neighbours across Manitoulin and beyond.
One of the annual events where those contributions continue to make the Island a better place is the Hovingh Memorial Bonspiel, started by Jordan Chandler and ably assisted by his brother Kyle, himself a police officer with Greater Sudbury Police Services, who acted as master of ceremonies for the awards this year.
This year, the bonspiel raised over $11,000 toward the work being done by Manitoulin Family Resources—the organization whose umbrella extends protection over women fleeing abusive relationships, operates the Manitoulin Food Bank and provides daycare services.
“So, obviously, at the heart of this event, it’s to honour Mark and we do that certainly through the donations, because as I’ve said before, he’s not here to serve anymore and we’re able to continue doing that for him, and that’s pretty awesome,” said Kyle Chandler.
“I said, ‘hey if we could just get 10 sponsors at a thousand dollars, because everyone’s hurting, we get 10 grand,” continued Mr. Chandler. “Everyone I reached out to gave more than a thousand dollars. There is no middleman, and we obviously don’t keep anything, any money we have left over from the event goes to MFR as well—so your entry fee essentially pays for the dinner, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands donates the ice—so it’s pretty awesome how the community comes together.”
Among the key sponsors this year were Patrick Mechanical, Manitoulin Transport, Bob’s Service Centre, Forest Industries and ReMax Island brokerage.
“I just thank you everybody who played a small part, or a big part,” said Constable Hovingh’s widow Lianne. “Our family is always so, so grateful. Just a couple days ago, I said to Kyle, ‘surely you are not coming here because he has a 60-hour old baby, so toast or buy him a drink.’”
“It is hard, four years later, but our gratefulness never gets any less,” she said. “I think our family’s gratefulness just gets more and more. Just thank you to each and every one of you. Thank you.”
“Thank you to the Bickell family once again,” said Mr. Chandler, who noted that this was the first bonspiel held on the rinks this season. “Super green ice and it was fantastic. Right? So, thank you so much Gord for the ice and Margo, because anything that I’m not good at and don’t want to take care of, she does.”
Mr. Chandler also thanked his brother Jordan for assisting with laying out the draw. “I get some teams and try to get some money but that’s all I can do,” laughed Mr. Chandler. “I’m not very good at making the draw.”
The winning team was the Allen Rink, consisting of Reuben Allen, Al and Carol Lanktree and Sharon Allen.
