Sport North Bay News
 
16/05/2012 - Injury Management and Prevention Workshop!

Injury Prevention and Management Workshop

Web: www.sportnorthbay.ca


This free workshop is brought to you by Sport North Bay in partnership with three local experts who will be donating their time to educate the community about preventing and managing sport related injuries!

Khouri Long of Core Maximus, Martin Payne of Symetrics, and Brenda Walsh of Active Running will all tackle different aspects from warming up to taping such injuries in an hour and a half session to be held in the Chippewa Intermediate Secondary School Cafeteria.

Please join us on May 16th at 7pm for this wonderful and rare opportunity! Certificates of participation will be made available upon request.


Sport North Bay
info@sportnorthbay.​ca

 
19/04/2012 - Ringette Announcement
Executive positions up for election are:
President
First Vice- President
Referee-in-chief
Tournament Director
Equipment Director
Rep Director
Ice Director
House League Director (for 1 year)
Sponsorship Director (for 1 year)

Please come out to the AGM to hear how the association made out during this past season, vote for the elections, and to share your ideas, and to put your name to stand for an executive position. The AGM is open to all.


Andrew Hopkins, OCT
Publicity Director

West Ferris Ringette Association
(C) 705-358-7519
hopkins_andrew@hotmail.com
www.westferrisringette.ca
 
17/04/2012 - WFRA ANNOUNCEMENT
Each of them come with a great deal of experience, and we look forward to seeing them in action next season!
 
U12 A- Mark Yeomans

U14 A- Terry Ablett

U16 A- Sara Parenteau-Comfort

U19 A- To be decided this week

Please join me in giving a huge congratulations, and a very warm welcome to our coaches for the upcoming season!!

Jena Kiviaho
WFRA Rep Director
 
13/04/2012 - Calendar
We now have the capability to colour code sporting events to make them more readily visible for your convenience!
The calendar is also larger to aid viewing ease!
 
Please submit your events ...registration, tournaments, fund-raisers, AGM's Coaches meetings etc.!
 
01/04/2012 - Database Update

A student at Nipissing University is doing a placement with us and is spear-heading this project. Her name is Tressa Vancoillie. Last week she began the process but has been having difficulty as many emails bounced back for some reason!

As you are hopefully aware, Sport North Bay is one of many local Sport Councils across the Province! The following will give you some ideas regarding our mandate!

VISION
Sport North Bay will be recognized as ‘One Voice’ for recreational and competitive sport in North Bay.

Sport North Bay will be known for offering resources, knowledge, communication networks, enabling tools and advice to any group.

MISSION
“The mission of Sport North Bay is to be an impartial voice for recreational and competitive sport. Sport North Bay exists to work with its partners in recreational and competitive sport through information sharing, promotion, resources, communication, education, and advocacy.”

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

  1. Advocate for Healthy Active Living (HAL).
  2. Provide opportunities for integrated program development.
  3. Work toward maximizing resources while eliminating duplication.
  4. Work towards communication and co-operation among individuals, organizations and sectors.
  5. Identify alternative sources of funding.
  6. Focus on the inclusive aspect of HAL.

We are currently attempting to confirm/ update the information we have in our database.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could send Tressa the following information. tressavancoillie@hotmail.com

Your Name:

Name of Organization (if appropriate):

Appropriate Category (i.e.- Adult Sport, Youth Sport, Adult/Youth Sport, Community Group, Individual, Media, School - Physical Education/Coach, Political):

We try to make distribution lists so that emails only go to appropriate people/organizations for whom the information is applicable!

Phone #:

Email:

Website (if applicable ….. we would like to include it on our website to help people access your information):

Other:

Are there any other members of your organization that we could include to reduce the number of emails you need to forward? Please list additional members by name and email as above, or forward this to them and ask them to respond! Thank you!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at info@sportnorthbay.ca

With thanks for your time and response,

Heather, Chair, Sport North Bay

 
03/03/2012 - Like us on Facebook
 
24/01/2012 - Webinar on Bullying
in the Classroom, in the Gym, and on the Playing Field" on Thursday, February 2, from 1-2 pm ET. Register now!
www.humankinetics.com
 
11/01/2012 - Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sport-North-Bay/168231053265868
 
11/01/2012 - Web sites

Contact Sport North Bay at info@sportnorthbay.ca 

 
27/10/2011 - Sport Tourism Strategy

The City of North Bay is moving forward with the development of a sport tourism strategy. North Bay has a vibrant sports culture that provides an excellent base in support of the development of this industry in the region.

As part of this process we are looking for information from sport organizations pertaining to sport events that are held on a regular basis; the types of events that may be undertaken in the next few years, and what kind of support organizations need to plan and host these events.

We are asking for your assistance in collection of this information through the completion of an online survey by Friday, November 4, 2011. To complete the survey please go to our survey link at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LHXK6J8.

Should you have any questions, please contact Sharon Kitlar at 705-474-0626 ext. 2317 or Sharon.kitlar@cityofnorthbay.ca.

 
26/10/2011 - WHERE IS SPORT?
Sport has still not officially landed within a portfolio in the Government of Ontario. We hope that someone in government is having second thoughts about burying Sport in a large Ministry, without our name on the masthead, especially when Ontario is the next host of a major, multi-sport Games – 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.

When Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, British Columbia changed their Ministry of Healthy Living to the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport. We thought that Ontario travelled down the same road with Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. Now the need to reduce the size of cabinet after winning a minority government has resulted in Health Promotion and Sport potentially being transferred to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.

Do you think that Sport belongs with Long-term Care?

We don't and we hope that someone in the McGuinty government is thinking again about not putting us there. There were a number of double-ups—the Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Women's Issues, Francophone Affairs, Seniors—but at least they have a Minister! We need a Minister responsible for Sport.

If you care about this, and you don’t want to see Sport disappear into a large bureaucracy, send a note to the Premier's office and your MPP. Notes matter, and the more they get, the more thought and attention this issue will get.

Message:
  • Ask, `Where is sport'?
  • Ask for a Minister responsible for Sport
  • Tell the premier why sport is important to you, your family and your organization.

Keep it brief! A couple of sentences would be great! Ask your Board members, athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers and staff to write to the Premier and their MPP —the more they hear from us, the better. Sport has a voice! Act now!

Fill in the `Contact us` box on the Premier`s website. Send him a message at his constituency Office as well, if you like.

Premier McGuinty https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/feedback.aspx
Constituency Office: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

And drop a line to your local MPP. You can find a list of all MPPs here:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en

Stay tuned! And PSOs and MSOs, we'll send you a letter shortly that you can send to your clubs and members!

If you have any questions, please contact Ted Gendron at tgendron@sport4ontario.ca.

 
12/10/2011 - Sport North Bay now on Facebook
If you have a story for us, please submit it to info@sportnorthbay.ca
 
We want to hear from you!
 
07/04/2011 - 50th Anniversary of Ringette
Congratulations to the West Ferris Ringette Association for their successful bid....based on "bringing the world home".
 
13/03/2011 - What events are you planning?
Let North Bay know about registration for your league, tournaments and special events that you are hosting, coaches meetings, AGM's etc.
 
Sport North Bay wants to assist you, via our calendar, to share what your teams, leagues, and associations are doing and planning to do!
 
Click on Calendar, Submit an Event and fill out the information sheet!
 
05/03/2011 - Welcome OFSAA Athletes
Be sure to come out and watch some great basketball and cheer the athletes to victory!
 
For schedules, go to http://www.ofsaa.on.ca/boysabasketball/ for  the 'A' Boys' Basketball Schedule and http://www.ofsaa.on.ca/boysaabasketball/ for the 'AA' Boys'  Basketball Schedule.
 
Welcome to North Bay boys, we hope you enjoy your stay and that everyone plays well!
 
Good luck to all!
 
19/10/2010 - Candidates Respond

 

2. How important do you feel creating affordable access to all forms of recreation is? What programs are you aware are available and do you have suggestions for enhancement and linkages?

 

 

Responses from Candidates for Mayor...in order of reception.

 

Harvey C. Villneff 

Affordable access is what we all would like to have for our Sports and Recreation centres however the costs of maintaining these complexes are high.  This puts the City in a catch 22 position, raise the costs and no one can afford it, therefore if no one can afford it, it doesn’t get used, and becomes an even larger liability.  User fees are the only way a city can manage to keep  complexes running.  I would like to see that we keep these costs at a manageable level.  Access for everyone may not always be attainable as much as we may try to make it so.

 

Valerie Chadbourne

I am aware of affordable recreation access efforts being made on a few fronts and hope to see this effort continue to develop to greater involvement in the future through community sponsorship initiatives for example.

A data base for these opportunities should be available on the City of North Bay web site, with a contact available to make it easier for the community to get involved in this and other evolving community initiatives.

 

Al McDonald

We can have all the programs we want but if only a percentage of our citizens can afford to take part, then I believe we will not be successful and as well, we will not get true community support. Kidsport is a great example of a group that is helping.

 

The ski exchange is making cross country and down hill skiing affordable. We need to have similar programs for all sports, so that equipment can be sold, so that new individuals have access to affordable equipment and those that have sold can replace their equipment and/or get some of their purchase costs returned. This benefits everyone. We could have equipment exchanges for all sports where the cost of equipment is expensive. It is important to have affordable access to sports, so no one is left behind. We also need to have a "One Stop" sports and recreation website that our community can visit and get all the information they need including costs, schedules, requirements, equipment and contacts so their questions can be answered. All sports can be represented on this website. I have found for an example, that the perception was down hill skiing was expensive. You could purchase all your equipment from the ski exchange for 100.00 and a day pass on the hill was 25.00 for full day or half day for 20.00. Children under 5 ski for free.   This is just one example.

 

Responses from Candidates for Councillor...in order of reception.

 

 

Mike Anthony

I feel affordable access is very imprtant; BUT there are also financial needs and costs to run the recreation system that have to be considered.  After 10 years on council; I've learned that it is almost always a question of "balance".

 

 I think the best approach to this question--and this entire issue--will involve various groups working together.   After the next council gets it's bearings and settles in; I think we could have staff engage community groups; parents; families; LIPI (low income people involvement); Big Brothers & Sisters etc...as well as any other groups/stakeholders.  We would be able to brainstorm and gather information...which in turn would give us a "baseline" on what we're doing well; and even more importantly : where we need improvement.

 

As the city budget is already tight; we will have to be creative in using or creating programs.  First off; we must take advantage of our GAP officer (Grant Accessing program) to seek out any and all federally and provincially funded programs that are aimed at making sport/recreation available to all people.  We should apply for every grant or program we can; and although we won't win them all; we'll see some benefits for sure! 

 

Secondly; I think we need to look for inventive partnerships where interested groups want to assist.  Despite tight economics there are still companies out there with a budget for charity or community investment.  To show what can be done; let me remind you of a project from a few years back.   This example involves the idea of bus-passes for war veterans. By being innovative; it helped us find a sponsor company to cover the cost of bus passes for the veterans.  The company got great media coverage; the veterans got their passes, and the city budget wasn't stretched further.  I think we could at least try to use a similar approach in looking for ways to make affordabel receration more of an option in our community.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to comment on these issues!!

 

Michael J. Phillips

Affordable access is a priority. The large portion of the North Bay population is middle to low earners. We are taxes the 5th highest in Canada, due mainly to poor budget planning by the current council.

  • Median total income of persons 15 years of age and over ($): 20,802
  • Median family income ($) All census families: 53,668
  • Average value of dwelling ($): 160,000
  • % of the population with a university certificate, diploma or degree: 50.7

(taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Bay,_Ontario)

 

There are several programs available, a quick google search can locate many of them, too many to list here. I would be willing to spend time reviewing any programs with anyone who has specific questions, and how we can deliver them better to the community.

 

 

Peter Chirico

Access to affordable recreation programs is important to our community.  At present there are various groups that provide assistance to families in need.  To list a few:

 

YMCA

Tim Hortons

Canadian Tire

LIPI

DNSSAB

North Bay Baseball Association

North Bay Youth Soccer Club

West Ferris Minor Hockey

Lakers Lacrosse

 

The City of North Bay continues to work with all groups to ensure that no one is excluded. I believe that organizations such as Sport North Bay, has done a great job in communicating to the general public, that there are avenues for families needing assistance.  City Parks Recreation and Leisure Services are open for business and have developed linkages throughout the community.

 

I trust the above information assists.  If any further information is required please do not hesitate to call.

 

Peter Chirico

Deputy Mayor

City of North Bay

705-494-7719

peter.chirico.ca 

 

Sarah Campbell

The City's revenue for the Total Operating Costs for Sports and Recreation is very low. l believe around 25% of the Total Cost. The programs and the costs to run are 75% covered by the City Taxpayer.

Sport North Bay Programs for other funding have come through the District Social Services Administration Board  on a budget line through the children's tax rebate line. I have sat on those Boards and Committees dealing with that budget line   LIPI also has a program it assists with disadvantaged children into Team Sports. 
I am very aware of the Sports Programs the City has to offer in all its facilities, infrastructure and services, and yes they are all very important.

.

 

Access to all sports within this City is very important and Sport is very important to a young child to get them confident within themselves, making connections and learning to play by rules of fairness.  Discipline, and a healthy body and equality are essential in the development of a child.  It was described by my Son as the best high in life that you could get....there was no need for anything else if one could get into Sport. In fact the only down time came when the season ended and before the next season began.   He is now 25 years old and he said this the other day on looking abroad for advancement into his field of work. He was searching out the Country of choice by their ice rinks for playing hockey!  He knows he can go anywhere in the world and feel he belongs, because of his ability to play sports. Sports enables him to get connected to new people in a new environment.  I think he sums up for me just how important Sports are in the life of a person.  My childhood was packed with Sports play. it lifts the spirits, it tones the body, it clears the mind, it introduces you to new friends and it teaches discipline and rules. It distracts you from negative environments..  Finally it develops lasting relationships and gives you that sense of belonging no matter where you go in this world. 

That's how valuable Sport is to me and my children now young adults and still searching out facilities World Wide!  I never underestimate the value of Team Sports and Recreation.

 

 Submitted by Sarah Campbell in response to questions from  Sport North Bay

 

 

Derek Shogren

As General Mgr. of Canadian Tire            we are actively involved with Kidsport which gives kids whose parents would not usually be able to afford to enroll their children  in organized sports the opportunity to. We have been able to pay for thousands of children to register for sports this way. Many of them right here in North Bay.  We raise money every year through our foundation and have  taken a leadership role in this throughout our communities and it is something I feel very passionate about.        The federal govt offers a credit for parents to help pay for some of the costs associated with enrolling your children in sports and the province has recently followed suit in a small way and I believe these programs need to be continued and ensure parents are aware of them. We need to look at every program available and ensure the message is getting out to parents to take advantage of them and we need to encourage private sector business to get involved financially to help our kids.                             Derek Shogren,

 

Jamie Lyle

It's very important that as recreation becomes less important to the education system that the municipality pick up it's fair share to support local residence in pursuing the recreation and health goals.  I'm aware of Kid's Sport, and I think many good things and fun come from it.  I have heard of after school programs as well. I was a long time Ringette player and my dad and brother's were hockey refs in the days of the Centennials so I am aware of many of the challenges you face with sport funding and facilities in North Bay.

 

Sean Lawlor

Healthy Active Living needs to be viewed as a right of citizens and not a luxury.  Grass roots programs such as the after school programs and the early years programs need to continue and be expanded.  Partnerships with key community partners such as the school boards and the YMCA need to continue and to grow.  Skill development is lacking and needs to be supported.

 

Our community used to be known as a great host site for athletic competitions and we seem to have drifted away from that.  More support for volunteer organizations in terms of training and development and more of a lead role by the City will allow us to get back to the standard we used to have.

 

With an aging population and the impact that recreation has on the physically challenged, I would be curious to find out what we are doing to enhance opportunities for these segments of the population.

 

Perhaps it is time for us to engage all segments of the population in the development of a long term plan to set out a path for North Bay to grow as a Healthy Active Community.

 

George Maroosis

Affordable access to recreation and sport programs is absolutely necessary.. I am aware  of several excellent programs, CTC Jump Start, Kids Sport, YMCA Strong Kids, Recreation and Community Fund  a DNSSAB program administrated by LIPI. As the Chair as LIPI  I know that there is cooperation and joint funding at times. This could however be more formalized.

 

Tanya Vrebosch

It’s extremely important to have affordable access to all forms of recreation.  Right now we have LIPI’s Recreation and Community Fund and the Children’s Emergency Fund, KidSport, Canadian Tire Jump Start (that goes through KidSport) YMCA’s subsidy program, assistance from non-profits and charities and the sports leagues themselves that help out their players/students.  So, we do have affordable access but it’s also about making sure that everyone knows that we have this affordable access.  I work at LIPI and am very familiar with their programs – we work very closely with KidSport and partner with them (especially for hockey – registration alone is more then the annual allocation per child) and we do things that they don’t cover such as high school sports and recreational activities that aren’t considered sports (horseback riding, cubs, scouts, archery etc).  Where we have some problems is affordable recreation for adults – there are no programs that I know of that subsidize adult recreation unless it’s from within their league/team – although LIPI does help with YMCA Family passes so that parents can access the YMCA with their children.  Word of mouth, collaborating with existing supports as well as networking with schools, sports teams/leagues needs to continue to create awareness.  There’s a meeting on Nov 7th that involves KidSport, LIPI and a few others to discuss this very issue and to see what’s if anything is lacking.  But again, where the gap is, is adults… something to think about, but currently no funds out there to support it.  Also, transportation is a barrier – organizations will pay for the registration, equipment etc but not the transportation.

 

Maureen Bolt

Affordable access is implied in my answer above, as local residents will be able to participate in additional outdoor venues.

 

I am not aware of many available programs that allow affordable access and look forward to rational possibilities.

 

This is a concern as our region has 2.5 times the provincial average of morbid obesity.  Our low average household income levels also impact the health of our citizens.

 

Craig Bridges

Affordability is the key to participation and unfortunately economic realities act as the greatest barriers for many of our families.  I am aware of a few local initiatives that help offset the cost of team sports for kids, but they do not have the resources to do it all.  We should look at programs like Larry Tougas’s baseball team and try to use them as templates to be repeated for other programs.  There are programs in other cities that have exchange programs for used sports equipment and bicycles that are donated and refurbished if necessary before being redistributed to meet the needs of the community.  North Bay should investigate these programs and adopt the best practices of the programs that already exist.

 

Sharon Langley

I have choosen to answer your questionnaire with a personal point of view.
 
Sports are a maturing tool for children.It teaches them the core values they will need in life.Teamwork,value of hard work,respect for authority,fair play are a few examples of the benefits of sports involvement.
 
Many studies refer to the positive aspects of sports engagement.Sports is the onset and beginnings of community engagement.Children who are engaged in sports programs stay in school longer ,interact better with their peers,and have a starting sense of community belongingness.
 
North Bay is fortunate enough to have wonderful sport programs administered and run by dedicated and talented volunteers.I have been a volunteer for years participating in the bingo event and fund raising activities.The ongoing building of our volunteer program is essential for good outcome.
 
If elected to city council I will continue to support sports programs,work hard to ensure our facilities are properly administered and most of all funded
 
Sports are part of our Social Fabric and add balance to a healthy commumity.I thank you.Sharon Langley.

 

David Briggs

I am aware of the current programs designed to subsidize the cost of playing organized sports for youth, and agree that it is a truly valuable program. Recreation is important at all ages, and this program allows those without the financial resources to participate in these sports the opportunity to do so.

 

Furthermore, I wish to look into more after school programs where recreation is at the forefront of the programming. A few schools currently have afternoon and evening programs for youth; I want to create programs (and not just for youth) that provides them with a low-cost alternative to gym memberships and the like. They could simply drop in for a game of basketball or floor hockey.

 

Clayton Windatt

Local pride in all areas of community activity is extremely important. Recreational events have to be publicized and generate a large amount of attention to keep local support and enthusiasm at its needed level. Keeping recreational services affordable is critical as enthusiasm drops dramatically when high fees are involved. I think that the sports services for children and youths in our area are very well supported. I have four children and like that there is a lot available for them.

I enjoy the idea of creating more linkages or cross promotions between the recreation sector and the cultural sector. This may bring in new audiences and connect activities to community groups that were not aware of services available.

Cross-promotion, community collaboration and partnership opportunities will lead to increased participation and attention.
Thanks for your time,
-Clayton Windatt

 

Mac Bain

As a member of the Board of Health for the past 7 years and the Chair for the last 4, I am aware of the benefits of recreation for children.

Eliminating the barriers to allow all children to participate is paramount.

The Federal and Provincial governments are continuing to work with partners to address this issue. The DSSAB and groups they fund continue to assist kids to get involved, and the City helps fund the DSSAB. We have to keep working together and keep encouraging kids to get out of the house and play.

 

Dave Mendicino

I believe it is extremley important to create affordable access to recreation, that is why in 2007, i became chair of kidsport, an organization that provide's financial assistance to families that could not otherwise afford to put there kid's in organized sport. Since 2007, we have expanded the number of sport activities that we fund and i am proud to say that in 2009 we where just under 200 families served and we will easily be over the 200 mark in 2010.  Over the last 7 year's we have also created youth center's at some of our playground's and the city play's a key role in delivering the After School Program. Both these intitiative's centre around creating affordable access to recreation. thank you.

 

Daryl Vaillancourt

I don’t believe that money should be a barrier to recreation.   I am keenly aware of the work of Kid Sport North Bay and I’m a strong advocate for their program.

I also think that social service providers should take a serious look at offering funding for those youth that want to participate in sport.

 

BJ Szabicot

It is critically important to make sure recreational opportunities are available to all city residents - regardless of income or social status. I am aware of "KidSport" and the crucial role it plays in ensuring youth access to organized physical activity year-round. Since I know that physical skill development in the young is a big factor in their success in later life, I see KidSport as helping to ensure the city's future health and well being by ensuring our kid's participation in physical activities. I believe KidSport and other programs of their ilk are doing a wonderful job (given the funding challenges they typically face) and can only encourage organizations such as these to continue and hopefully strengthen their programs as time passes.

 

Judy Koziol

Affordable access is the key to not only a healthy community now, but in the long term.  Affordable access at a young age creates a desire in later years for facilities.  So in essence these investments are reaping a greater rate of return.

 

Investments in affordability programs are already in place through the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board as well as Low Income People Involvement.  The City also has several youth engagement programs.

 

However any offerings must also be affordable to the taxpayer.  

Unlimited offerings of any and all activities must be tempered.

 
12/04/2010 - Syl Apps Award Winners

As stated in the North Bay Nugget on April 10th

Peter Handley spent his childhood idolizing Syl Apps. More than 60 years later, his memories of the Hockey Hall of Famer still stand strong on skates.

Handley, 77, a longtime radio personality and former city councillor who grew up in Kingston, met the former Toronto Maple Leafs captain as a nine-year-old -- when the Hogtowners were known as a real hockey franchise," he said--and had to grapple with other local kids for his hero's autograph.

 

There must have been 20 kids piling on top of me," Handley reminisced Thursday. And I must have pulled out the piece of paper before he finished signing it.

The P and the S were strung out, and he must have been wondering, 'what's wrong with this kid?'"

So when the recent Ontario Sports Awards were announced, Handley was tickled to find out he will be one of 24 individuals to receive a Syl Apps Special Achievement Award April 15 at Ontario Place's Atlantis Pavillion in Toronto.

He said it is an honour and a surprise to be associated with the epitome of Canadian hockey" during the 1930s and '40s. Apps won three Stanley Cups, served in the Canadian army during the Second World War, was an Ontario Athletic Commissioner and an MPP in the Kingston area after retiring from the NHL in 1948.

He was quite the man," Handley

said of Apps, who was known to be a respectful, straight-edged individual during his 10-year NHL career--a nonsmoker, non-drinker who never swore and had great respect for his legendary boss Conn Smythe, according to Apps's Hockey Hall of Fame biography.

Handley, a longtime softball executive, isn't the only Syl Apps recipient from North Bay this year. Basketball coach Tim Simpson and tennis executive Rob Dawson will also be honoured next week.

Dawson, who moved to the area in 1989 and has been involved with the North Bay Tennis Centre ever since said the recognition is nice, but he'd rather be in the background, namelessly doing his thing.

That must be the career civil servant in me," said Dawson, a retired government employee.Us bureaucrats, we like to be faceless."

Dawson has been active in tennis since the 1970s and served as president of the North Bay Tennis Centre from 2000 to 2008 during which time the club's membership more than doubled from 120 in the late 1990s to more than 250 people last year and the cost of participating decreased by 50%.

He also reorganized the club into a non-p ro fit organization, spearheaded a number of renovations at the Trout Lake Road facility, including a new clubhouse, change rooms and court resurfacing, and initiated a sponsorship program to assist less fortunate children.

He also pens a weekly column in The Nugget during the tennis season.

It would be safe to say that without the leadership, dedication and passion showed by Rob Dawson, the sport of tennis would be struggling in our area," states the unnamed individual who nominated Dawson.

Simpson, who has coached high school basketball at West Ferris and most recently Chippewa secondary schools, was nominated by Basketball Ontario for building the sport in the community.

Simpson is the director of the Summer Skills hoops camp and the co-ordinator of the Tomahawk Invitational Boys' Basketball Tournament, the largest two-day high school event in Canada. He also serves as president of the Nipissing Basketball Association, a summer house league for kids.

The high school stuff is nice, and it's raised the profile of the sport in North Bay," said Dan Cockburn, a co-coach with Simpson on the Chippewa Raiders senior boys' basketball team. But I think its the opportunities provided to the kids of North Bay that's his biggest contribution."

I'm sure when you add up all his volunteer time, (the NBA, the camps, etc.) he's probably dedicated hundreds upon hundreds of hours over the years."

Handley, meanwhile, was nominated for his half-century of work as a softball executive, scorekeeper and manager in North Bay and abroad.

He began his tenure locally as a manager of the North Bay Dairy team in the 1950s and remained active since then as a public address announcer and scorekeeper with the now-defunct Gateway Major Fastball Association.

He joined the OASA as the Northern Ontario representative in 1976, penning their newsletter for more than 13 years and 65 issues.

Handley continues to serve as a scorekeeper with the local World Senior Men's Fastball Tournament and still chairs OASA meetings across Ontario.

It's just in his blood, he loves ball," said Vince Caliciuri, who grew up listening to the radio wanting to be a sports guy like Pete Handley" and ended up working with him at AM600 CKAT. He was at Amelia Park twice a week, he'd be there for all the doubleheaders at 7 and 9 p.m., I think, hanging out with the shadflys on those bad shad nights.

That's his No. 1 love when it comes to sport, he loves scoring ball."

jercit@nugget.ca

 
09/12/2009 - Community torchbearer named

When the Olympic Flame arrives in North Bay in just 3 weeks time, it will be proudly carried by Nicholas Fung, nominated as our community torchbearer to light the celebration cauldron for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

 

Nicholas, 13, is a student at Chippewa Intermediate/Secondary School and is known in the community for his unwavering desire to be a hockey goalie which was the impetus behind Northern Ontario's only special needs hockey team, the North Bay North Stars. Nicholas has a very sweet disposition and a disarming innocence and leaves a positive impression on most people he interacts with.  He is happy with a great sense of humour, involved in his community and connected uniquely to the world around him.  What makes him so remarkable is that he has managed to do so despite having challenges that affect the way he thinks and learns.

 

“We’re pleased to announce Nicholas as North Bay’s torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Mayor Vic Fedeli. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Nicholas, who is one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history! On December 30th, we want everyone in our community to join together with other Canadians and show the world how inspired we feel by the Olympic Flame and its message of peace, brotherhood and friendship.”

 

To celebrate the arrival of the flame, the community is planning an array of stage entertainment that includes an aboriginal welcome, the Interlink Choir, Dreamcoat Theatre, Renata Dolata, Nishnaabe Eshkiniijig and Spirit Star Singers.  The Widdifield High School Choir will be performing the national anthem in both French & English. 

 

There will also be performances, interactive displays and giveaways by sponsors including Coca-Cola and RBC.  Crowds will be dazzled by a spectacular grand finale fireworks display.  Admission is free to the public and the first 1000 people will receive a free treat of toffee on snow. Dress warmly and help paint the town red by wearing your red clothing.

 

Midway through the two-hour celebration program, Nicholas will carry the Olympic Torch on its final 300 metres to the stage where he will light the 1.3-metre high celebration cauldron, in a move similar to the dramatic highlight of what will occur during the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and The 106-day Olympic Torch Relay, which is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada, will visit more than 1,030 communities and places of interest in every province and territory. On February 12, 2010, the Olympic Flame will make its way to downtown Vancouver to light the Olympic Cauldron in a magical and awe-inspiring moment before a television audience of three billion people worldwide, signalling the kick off to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

 

For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, visit www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.

 
05/08/2009 - Ringette stamp

and in honour of North Bay being the birthplace of ringette, Kenneth Tregenza the superintendent of the North Bay Canada Post Depot will present the West Ferris Ringette Association with a framed first-release of the stamp.

 

This stamp presentation will be held on Monday August 10, 2009 from 4:30-5:30PM in the Hall of Fame Room at Memorial Gardens.

 

It was in 1963, that Sam Jacks, a City of North Bay Parks and Recreation Director created the sport of ringette because he felt that there was a need to have a winter ice sport for girls. Since that time, the sport has grown and is now played worldwide. Ringette is 100% Canadian and is North Bay invention in the sporting world.

 

“This is a great honor for the West Ferris Ringette Assocation that Canada Post selected ringette as part of their Canadian invention stamp series,” WFRA Publicity Director Andrew Hopkins said, "and that Canada Post wants to do something for us, in honor of this prestigious ringette stamp release.”

 

Stamp Presentation by Canada Post:

Date: Monday August 10, 2009

Time: 4:30-5:30PM

Location: Hall of Fame Room, Memorial Gardens

 

 For more Information contact:

Clark Priolo                                   

President                             

(705) 499-2636 (cellular - days)   

cpriolo@cogeco.ca                         

 

Andrew Hopkins

Publicity Director

(705) 492-6862 (cell)     

hopkins_andrew@hotmail.com 


 

 



Andrew Hopkins
Publicity Director

West Ferris Ringette Association
476-3715
hopkins_andrew@hotmail.com

 
05/02/2009 - LTAD web sites
www.ltad.ca and www.canadiansportforlife.ca. We hope that you find these sites helpful! They will be added to our Links section as soon as our Webmaster has time available!
 
05/02/2009 - Long Term Athlete Development
Long Term Athlete Development is based on the physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive development of children and adolescents. Each stage reflects a different point in athlete development. ensures physical literacy1 upon which excellence can be built and builds physical literacy in all children, from early childhood to late adolescence by promoting quality daily physical activity in the schools and a common approach to developing physical abilities through community recreation and elite sport programs. recognizes the need to involve all Canadians in LTAD, including athletes with a disability. ensures that optimal training, competition, and recovery programs are provided throughout an athlete’s career. provides an optimal competition structure for the various stages of an athlete’s development. provides an optimal competition structure for the various stages of an athlete's development. has an impact on the entire sport continuum, including participants, parents, coaches, schools, clubs, community recreation programs, provincial sport organizations (PSOs), national sport organizations (NSOs), sport science specialists, municipalities, and several government ministries and departments (particularly but not exclusively in the portfolios of health and education) at the provincial/territorial and federal levels. integrates elite sport, community sport and recreation, scholastic sport, and physical education in schools. is ‘Made in Canada’, recognizing international best practices, research, and normative data. supports the four goals of the Canadian Sport Policy — Enhanced Participation, Enhanced Excellence, Enhanced Capacity, and Enhanced Interaction — and reflects a commitment to contribute to the achievement of these goals. promotes a healthy, physically literate nation whose citizens participate in lifelong physical activity. 1Physical literacy refers to competency in fundamental motor skills and fundamental sport skills. For more information go to:http://www.ltad.ca/content/home.asp
 

 
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