Amazing 'Ride' For Mackenzie

Sunday, April 03, 2011 04:00 AM

Crowd gathers at 'Spirit Square' outside Alan Sheppard Arena in Mackenzie

Mackenzie, B.C. - Spirit, passion, inspiration - all words that were used repeatedly in Mackenzie yesterday, as the little town that could, almost did.

The northern B.C. community fought hard for the title of Kraft Hockeyville 2011, but had to settle for the number two spot when Conception Bay South, NL garnered 342,926 more votes in the final round of nationwide balloting.

But, as one of the local bid organizers, Steve Rooke, told the residents gathered in the curling rink just after the announcement, "Mackenzie did not lose."

The crowd was buoyed by a day-long celebration that featured hockey clinics, a parade and live music on the 'Spirit Stage' set up outside the Alan Sheppard arena and curling rink.

The NDP candidate for Cariboo-Prince George, Lois Boone, was one of many catching a quick bite to eat during the NHL's early game. Boone drove from Chetwynd to be on-hand for the announcement.

Residents began getting pumped up during some 'live' hits for the CBC. (click photo at left for video clip)

And the excitement hit a fever pitch when more than 200 people moved inside the curling rink for the start of the Vancouver-Edmonton game being broadcast on a big screen.

One of the highlights was a 'flash mob' performance to 'I gotta feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas. Teri Boire and Kim Bell choreographed the mob performance.

Boire says they started with a private practise on Monday and threw it open to the public on Tuesday and had an overwhelming 75 people show up - that sent them back to the drawing board, but they had it together by Thursday. (watch it by clicking photo at right)

There was a sense of awe and unbridled enthusiasm as more and more people in the crowd joined the performance.

There was a momentary lull after the announcement was made, but residents put their 'game face' on and started dancing again.

(Click on photo at left for video clip of the crowd as the top five were whittled to the final two, and then the winner. The decibel level was too much for Opinion250's camera mic, so the volume has been lowered, but it will give you a sense of the excitement.)

"We got to go for the end, but our run was our run," said Rooke. Although he pointed to the mob dancers back on the floor when he said, "It was an amazing experience and that speaks for it right there - they're not done."

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