Canucks wives and girlfriends pop balloons for charity at Tuesday night’s home game

By MIKE RAPTIS, The Province

Andrea Kesler gets ready to pop one of the Empty Stocking Fund Prize balloons on the concourse at Rogers Arena. Vancouver Canuck wives and girlfriends will be raising money for the charity at two home games this year. Photograph by: Ric Ernst, PNG
This is the time of year the Canucks wives and girlfriends make as big a statement off the ice as their hockey-playing hubbies do on it.
For the 12th straight Christmas season, the Vancouver Canucks and The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund are teaming up to raise funds for needy families around B.C. and the Lower Mainland.
Andrea Kesler, wife of Canucks centre Ryan, says fundraising for The Province’s 93rd annual charity Christmas drive is an honour and a privilege.
“Us spouses are not only here to support them. We’re also here to make our own statement as well,” said Kesler, now a veteran of nine-straight Empty Stocking Fund Charity drives.
During Tuesday's home game at Rogers Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Dec. 6 home game against the Colorado Avalanche, a handful of Canucks wives and girlfriends will be at two locations — on the 300-level concourse and on the 100-level concourse — popping balloons for charity.
Fans are encouraged to purchase a $20 balloon, which has a number inside that corresponds to a prize.
Kesler says the wives and girlfriends will pop the balloons, and Canucks fans can take their number and receive a bag which can contain an autographed photo, merchandise from the team store, CDs and other goodies.
Last year, Canucks fans donated almost $18,000 to the cause.
In the past 12 years, the Canucks drive has raised almost $125,000 for struggling families.
All proceeds go to the Empty Stocking Fund.
Kesler says it is heartwarming to know Canucks fans can be counted on around Christmas-time.
“It’s quite amazing. It’s nice to know that not only are they a good fan base behind the whole hockey team . . . but that they’re always there to support every charity the Canucks has with this being such an important one around Christmas-time,” she said.
Kesler, now with two young kids, says she has been involved in charity work since her younger years with her family in Michigan.
“Since I was a little girl we’ve always given to a needy family and now, having my own children, seeing them wake up and seeing that Santa Claus never came would break my heart,” said Kesler.
Even Ryan is impressed with the work his wife does in the community.
“He’s really proud of me. He really likes how I like to get right in there and get involved,” said Andrea.
The money raised from The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund in distributed to 27 Christmas bureaus, Salvation Army centres and community service organizations that provide food, shelter and gifts to thousands of B.C. families.
mraptis@theprovince.com