Lacing up for local kids: the Oak Bay Xmas Cup’s legacy

What started as “just a bunch of buddies” reconnecting over the holidays has become a deeply rooted community effort to give back—one hockey game at a time.

For Sean Tackaberry, community isn’t just a value, it’s a way of life. As the longtime organizer behind the Oak Bay Xmas Cup and owner of Kirby’s Source for Sports, he’s helped turn a casual game into a powerful annual fundraiser.

Each Boxing Day, the Cup brings together families, friends, local businesses, and teammates. The tradition began in 2009 as a single game among friends. The next year, it evolved into a fundraiser in honour of a teammate battling cancer.

“We realized we could do something positive with it,” says Sean. The event has since raised more than $174,000 for local causes.

The group has donated a total $23,765 to Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island since 2012. In 2025, they toured Jeneece Place to see their impact firsthand. “Before we even left the building, it was like, okay, this is where we want the money to go.”

In addition to supporting Island children and families through our programs, the Cup has donated to several causes through the years, such as families facing cancer, MS, mental health challenges, and rare diseases.

Sean’s business helps with some tournament costs to maximize donations, but the real heart of the event is the community that shows up year after year.

“We all have kids,” Sean says. “And we’d do anything for our kids. So let’s try and help other kids in the community the way we can.”