Flames announce beautiful plans for items left in honor of Johnny Gaudreau
A classy move by Flames management!
It's hard to believe that it's been over 2 weeks since Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed by an alleged drunk driver.
The hockey world has come together to not only mourn the two young men's deaths, but to also celebrate their lives. The outpouring of love from fans in Columbus and Calgary has been nothing short of spectacular. Outside of Columbus' Nationwide Arena and Calgary's Saddledome fans have created makeshift memorials complete with hockey sticks, jerseys, flowers, stuffed animals and... purple Gatorade (Johnny's favorite).
Today, the Flames announced an end to the 13 day observance outside Saddledome and unveiled their plans for the gifts left by fans for Johnny and Matthew.
Posters, signs, personal letters and messages, and chalk drawings were all photographed before being removed, to be compiled in a digital memory book from Flames fans for the Gaudreau family.
The sticks left at the memorial will be used to create benches to be used in fundraising efforts for local charities. The benches will also have plaques reading "In memory of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau."
Similarly, jerseys left behind by fans will be repurposed into blankets and donated to local Calgary charities.
Stuffed toys will be donated to local children's charity created by Flames captain Mikael Backlund.
Gatorade and Skittles (another favourite of Johnny's) will be collected and accounted for before the Flames make a "commensurate financial contribution to the Calgary Food Bank."
Finally, all flowers will be composted and the soil from the compose will be used at community parks around the city of Calgary.
Full details from the Flames:
Signs, messages, and chalk: The site has been precisely photographed including all chalk drawings, posters, signs, personal letters, and messages. The photographs will be provided to the Gaudreau family as an everlasting digital memory book from Flames fans.
Hockey Sticks: Hockey stick benches will be created that will be used in fundraising efforts for local charities. Plaques identifying the benches’ origins will include "In memory of Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau".
Skittles: The edible items that are no longer fit for human consumption will be counted and the Calgary Flames Foundation will make a commensurate financial contribution to the Calgary Food Bank.
Purple Sports Drinks: The plastic beverage containers will be emptied and donated to the KidSport Calgary recycling program. The program turns empties into sport opportunities for local kids in need, the access to sports.
Stuffed Toys: Toys made of cloth and cotton such as Teddy Bears will be donated to Parachutes for Pets, a charity supported by Mikael Backlund and Mackenzie Weegar. These will be used for the Lily and Dexter’ Legacy program - a groundbreaking program ensuring children in care can stay with their pets by providing essential support such as leashes, collars, vet care, vaccines, and licensing, created by the Backlund family.
Jerseys: The jerseys will be laundered and used to design blankets that will be donated to local charitable organizations.
Flowers: All organics will be collected and sent to compost. Soil from the flowers will be deposited in the earth at community park(s) around the city.
Miscellaneous Items: The remaining items will be reviewed following the completion of sorting.
Kudos to the Flames for turning this tragedy into something positive for the city of Calgary.
