In what has become a dirty word for some, a good idea for others, the Beaver Valley Minor Hockey Association finally voted for amalgamation.
Members of the BVMHA met in Fruitvale on Thursday at its annual general meeting to vote on the merger with Rossland-Trail Minor Hockey Association. When the ballots were counted, 87.1 percent voted in favour of amalgamation, with 88 for and 13 against while four abstained.
“I think if we can work together we can really be strong . . . we have a lot of workers in our association that are willing to put in time and energy to make it work, and I think they (RTMHA) do too, and if we can put those two together it can be great,” said BVMHA vice president Dara Waterstreet.
In a January ballot, 71 per cent of members voted for the motion, and while it was significantly more than the 61 per cent that cast in favour of it last May, it was short of the 75 per cent necessary.
The amalgamation means both associations will disband and create a new society based on a constitution created by the Futures Committee in preparation for last year’s vote. It includes forming a 24-person executive with eight members from each Beaver Valley, Trail, and Rossland.
The ultimate goal is to form a new Greater Trail Minor Hockey Association before September, but with a relatively short timeline, the merger may not happen until the following year, said Waterstreet.
“Everything new has its share of bumps and bruises along the way, but its just about working together to keep it moving positively.”
Earlier in the week, the executive offered parents an opportunity to voice their concerns to the BVMHA executive at a meeting at the Beaver Valley Library.
Rossland-Trail Minor Hockey voted in favour of amalgamation in last May’s vote but it is unclear whether another ballot is required.