The gift basket was claimed by Keith Redl's son, who is the father of the boy who won the prize pack of cannabis, edibles and other paraphernalia (Photo: Keith Redl)

By Shaun Penner

Taking the 'pot'

Local eight-year-old hockey player wins prize of cannabis, edibles at Dawson Creek tournament

Mar 3, 2020 | 11:01 AM

It was a prize Keith Redl was not expecting his eight-year-old grandson to come away with from his novice hockey tournament this past weekend in Dawson Creek.

Redl’s grandson plays in the Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Association. As part of the tournament, like many other youth hockey tournaments, a prize draw table was set up as a fundraiser.

“They lay these prizes out on a table in a prize room… and they put a paper bag in front of each one of the prizes. Then people buy tickets, like 10 for five bucks or whatever,” explained Redl. “Then they go and put their ticket in the paper bag in front of the prize that they’re trying to win.”

Redl’s grandson did just that, placing one of his tickets in for what he thought was a prize pack of chocolates and other assorted treats.

The boy’s father was then called on Sunday afternoon, informing him that he had won the prize.

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“So, he went, and it was $200 worth of marijuana and marijuana edibles,” said Redl. “He sent me a picture (shown above) before he even left Dawson Creek because he couldn’t believe that this was a prize at a kid’s hockey tournament.”

In a statement sent to EverythingGP from the Dawson Creek Minor Hockey Association, they acknowledge that the prize was given out and that they safeguarded against giving it to a minor. The association notes the gift basket was never physically shown on the table, just a photo.

“The raffle winner was told the basket contained cannabis products and was given the option of not accepting the prize,” reads the statement. “The winner chose to take the prize, their identification was checked to ensure they were of legal age, and the donor took them outside the event to deliver the basket.”

Edibles, like these dark chocolate squares, were a part of the prize pack (Photo: Keith Redl)

Furthermore, the association notes that after checking the policies of B.C. Hockey and the guidelines of the B.C. Gaming and Policy Branch, they found nothing to tell them they couldn’t offer cannabis as a prize item.

That still leaves Redl puzzled as to why such a prize was available at a youth hockey tournament in the first place.

“Part of the campaign the government used to legalize it was to keep it out of the kids’ hands,” said Redl. “How is advertising it and promoting it at an eight-year-old kids’ hockey tournament trying to keep it out of kids’ hands? There’s obviously some very serious flaws in the legislation that even allows this to take place.”

He further adds that he feels comparing a cannabis prize pack to that of alcohol is a bit different, because the dangers or legalities surrounding cannabis use are not as well known by children his grandson’s age.

“Number one, an eight-year-old does not know what THC is and probably does not understand what cannabis is. If he can even pronounce the word because they are just learning how to read,” said Redl. “If my grandson would’ve seen a basket with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses it, he either wouldn’t have put his ticket in it, or he would’ve asked ‘Dad, can we give this to Mom for Mother’s Day if I win?’, or something like that.”

“So, it’s a totally different thing to have a bottle of wine there then it is to have THC laced chocolates.”

Chocolate fondue flavoured sativa cannabis was part of the gift basket (Photo: Keith Redl)

The DCMHA says that they appreciate the concerns brought forward and that they will be updating their policies for future tournaments.

“It was not our intention to upset any of the attendees at the event, and we apologize for anyone who was offended by the prize,” the statement reads. “The tournament is organized by volunteers and their objective is to have a fun tournament and raise money for DCMHA to allow hockey to be more affordable and more inclusive.”