INVERMERE — With almost 500 votes tallied and counted, artist Cathy Parkes and young filmmaker Birken Kirk have become the first two winners of the Columbia Valley Arts and B.C. Pond Hockey Centre Ice Art Contest.

The results came from an online poll on the B.C. Pond Hockey website. Visitors to the site were invited to choose their favourite from a variety of pieces submitted by local artists.

Parkes won for her two-dimensional artwork “Lake Hockey,” while 11-year old Kirk’s video Snow Skate also racked up the votes.

As the winning artist in the two-dimensional category, Parkes will have her painting used as the official logo for the 2013 B.C. Eastern Regional Pond Hockey Championships.

Pynelogs Cultural Centre manager Jami Scheffer said working with lead championship organizer John Reed on the project was “a pleasure.”

“John was keen from our first conversation to partner Columbia Valley Arts Council and B.C. Pond Hockey Series to support this event in our valley, and provide opportunities for our local artists to participate and be part of this Canadian culture.”

Scheffer also offers a special thank you to the other artists who participated: Scott Bellows, Paula Cravens, Robyn Oliver and Kent Shoemaker.

“The results were very close, each piece deserves equal recognition and acknowledgement,” she says.

View all the Centre Ice submissions online at bcpondhockey.com/center-ice-art-contest.html.