Football plays a big part in Hafford's community fabric. (Hafford Football/Facebook)

By Martin Martinson

Community comes together

Hafford Football named recipient of $5,000 Community Support Initiative

Apr 8, 2021 | 3:00 PM

The community of Hafford has been named a winning recipient of the “Riders and Special Blend Community Support Initiative.” The prize of $5,000 will help support and grow the local football program.

The news comes after it was announced last week the community was named a finalist for one of the three winning spots, along with Wilcox, Springside, Peepeekisis Cree Nation, and Arcola, who rounded out the top five finalists.

Local Curtis Androsoff is the one who nominated Hafford for the contest. He said it was truly something special just to see how the community got behind the cause and poured in their votes in support.

“It’s unreal. I knew it from being from this area, but here in Hafford, Blaine Lake and Radisson area, football is a three-season sport,” he said. “It’s been tied to the community for generations, and with social media and the way of people reaching out to one another, [the cause] really just skyrocketed.”

Androsoff said just knowing first-hand the passion the community has for the sport, it was something special to receive the news they had been declared a winner, and awarded the $5,000 program boost.

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“One thing I’ve seen in this area is that a football game here in Hafford, with the Friday night lights, through the snow and the rain and the cold, it’s always full,” he said. “It really means something to this community.”

Manager with Hafford Minor Football, Vanessa Horner said they appreciate the initiative from Androsoff to submit the nomination, and from the whole community for making their vote count to support the local football program.

“Being a part of the Hafford Minor Football organization for 10-plus years, it is a real sense of pride and a really positive thing for our community and surrounding communities,” Horner said. “All three of my boys have benefited from the football program in Hafford, and it has helped them and so many other kids build confidence and a sense of belonging to something great.”

The full list of community winners is expected to be released sometime in the next week.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1