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NEWS: Vees Add Sensory Kits To Promote Inclusion At Games

PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees Junior Hockey Club are making Vees games more inclusive for everyone. In cooperation with the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre, the team announced that Sensory Kits will be made available during home games at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

After first seeing the launch of Sensory Kits by other organizations in the hockey community, the team wanted to bring this initiative to Penticton. The Vees have purchased Sensory Kits that can be loaned out at no charge for children who have sensory challenges. The kits include noise cancelling earmuffs, sunglasses, a stress ball, sticker activities, hockey cards along with a social story. The kits will be made available at the Sunday, February 9th game at Guest Services on the concourse at the top of the stairs at the main entrance.

“We feel fortunate to be part of a community that shows so much support for our team,” commented Director of Corporate Partnerships Alex Welsman, “We want our Vees games to be a place where all families feel included.”

“The creation of these Sensory Kits is phase one of the program. The next phase will be offering SOEC tours in advance of games in order to allow the arena to go from an unknown place to a known place,” Manisha Willms, Executive Director of the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre expressed complete support: “Having the Vees organization offer this to our community is so impressive. There are many families who would like to take their children to a game but worry that they will be overwhelmed by the lights and sounds of the event. The kits will go a long way towards making games more accessible.”

These Sensory Kits will first be made available on Sunday, February 9th when the Vees host the West Kelowna Warriors at 2:00 PM. For more information on this program, families with children who might benefit from the kits are welcome to contact Alex Welsman at veespartnerships@gmail.com.