Quaker Canada Gives Breakfast Bar Makeover to the Birthplace of Hockey

Quaker Canada ventured to what is known as the birthplace of hockey, Délı̨ne (pronounced 'day-le-neh'), Northwest Territories, to give The Jerry Vital Memorial Arena kitchen a Quaker Breakfast Bar makeover. A pillar in the town for over 30 years, the arena is more than just a place for hockey - it’s a hub for Délı̨ne First Nations to gather, play sports, drum, dance, sew, and share meals year-round. The renovation aims to enrich this space, fostering collaboration and passion both inside the arena and beyond.  

"It’s been an honour to collaborate with Quaker Canada over the last couple of years on this project. Seeing it come to fruition this August has been a wonderful experience as it means a lot to me and the people in our community,” commented Danny Gaudet, ?ekw’ahtide’ (chief) of Délı̨ne. 

Last year, Quaker Canada began the Quaker Breakfast Bar initiative to help hockey communities continue to thrive. The community of Navan, Ontario, received an arena renovation that brought them together and reignited the community's love for the game. Continuing with that commitment in partnership with local government officials, Délı̨ne was chosen this year because of the Sahtu Dene, Délı̨ne First Nations’ unparalleled passion for hockey and community connection.  

“The You’ve Got This platform is about offering Canadians the tools to do and be their best,” said Logan Chambers, senior director of marketing at PepsiCo Foods Canada. “As a proud supporter of Canadian hockey communities, we are thrilled to bring this Quaker Breakfast Bar renovation to the community of Délı̨ne where not only hockey but the arena itself connect and bring people together. The Quaker Breakfast Bar is our way of energising the community so that everyone can take on the days that matter.”  

Home to the Délı̨ne Braves and Délı̨ne Chiefs (also known as the Oldtimers), the local hockey teams, The Jerry Vital Memorial Arena rink also serves as training ground for an annual free hockey camp led by between 1-6 NHL players to inspire the next generation of athletes, some who fly or drive in from neighbouring regions to attend. This coupled with its fly-in only locale, with a population of around 650, strong history with the sport and deep-rooted connection to oats - which are used in local dishes like caribou stew – made Délı̨ne a perfect match for the second year of the Quaker Breakfast Bar campaign.  

This August, The Jerry Vital Memorial kitchen was transformed into a fully stocked Quaker Breakfast Bar, featuring a variety of Quaker’s high-in-protein products, including its newest line of products, Protein+ instant oatmeal. The Quaker Breakfast Bar renovations are a way to give hockey communities high-in protein, delicious-tasting breakfast time and snack options to help them take on the day with confidence.  

To showcase the Délı̨ne kitchen renovation, Quaker has partnered with Sportsnet to produce a three-minute segment, featuring former NHL hockey player and current Sportsnet news anchor, Colby Armstrong, that will air on the first Hockey Night in Canada of the year on October 12th.