By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council has voted at its April meeting to proceed with a renaming of the smaller ice surface at the Cobourg Community Centre in honour of young hockey player Grace Bowen.
The request was made at council’s April 9 meeting of the Community Services, Protection and Economic Development Committee in response to a presentation by Grace’s parents and actor Ryan Reynolds.
Young Grace was one of the most enthusiastic members of the Northumberland Wild hockey team when she was diagnosed with the same cancer Terry Fox had. Like Terry Fox, she fought back and never gave an inch, in spite of losing a leg.
Her incredible spirit captured Canadian hockey legend Hailey Wickenheiser, who asked her to go onstage with her when she got her star at the Canadian Walk of Fame. The little girl admitted to a wish to meet Ryan Reynolds, who was also present, and he promptly joined her onstage.
Reynolds related to the committee how Grace inspired him to become an activist on behalf of the Hospital for Sick Children. And when the hospital honoured her as one of its unforgettable memories on the occasion of its 150th anniversary, he was further inspired to join Grace’s parents in requesting the renaming.
The Grace Bowen Arena will become the new name for the Pond surface. And just for consistency in nomenclature, Director of Community Service Brian Geerts said, the Bowl surface will be known as the Bowl Arena.
