RCBHS GETS A TRACK
THE PRIDE FIELD STORY
1987-1989

A BRIEF OVERVIEW:

  1. June, 1987: It all began with an idea conceived by Bill Cross and his members in the Crystal Beach Pride Association. They come forward with an offer to RCBHS principal Mr. Tritchew, “Tritch”, to donate $50,000 towards construction of a running track for the school and community.
  2. Tritch saw the offer as a great opportunity to improve RCBHS sports facilities and asked me to further explore costs and other implications.
  3. The concept was enthusiastically embraced by staff, students, and the wider community. A board of volunteer directors was formed to investigate costs, fundraising, construction etc. It consisted of Bill Cross, Gerry Mulholland, Rick Costello, Terry Lamorie, Nick Strugar, Russ Wilson (fund raising chair), Jack Smalldon (secretary), Ron Lampman (treasurer) and Garry Skerrett (chair).
  4. School Board officials expressed some reservations but due to strong support from our local representatives, (Dave Randal and Louis Ziff), the needed endorsement by the board was made.
  5. Eighteen months of fundraising, weekly director meetings and negotiations with contractors followed. As the total fundraising effort exceeded expectations and the Crystal Beach Pride Associatiion doubled their contribution to $100,000 we were able to expand our objectives to include an eight lane, all weather, rubberized track with first rate facilities and equipment for all events including pole vault, high jump, javelin, shot put, discus, hurdles, steeple chase, long jump and triple jump.
  6. The prime construction contract was awarded to Ancaster Paving Company, Bill Harvey-President, Ontario's premier builder of running tracks, with completion set for the fall of 1989.
  7. October 14, 1989. The facilities were completed on time and we held a very successful grand opening ceremony organized by Nick Strugar and his committee, and chaired by him.
  8. Other major improvements followed: A field house complete with excellent storage, snack bar and washrooms; improved lighting and fencing; a roofed food and/or administration pavilion; and bleachers to accommodate over 1,000 athletes and spectators.
  9. RCBHS hosted numerous successful meets over the years including: many local and Niagara Region elementary school meets, Special Olympics, Zone and SOSSA secondary school finals, invitational meets, the Terry Fox Run and Royal Canadian Legion Track Meets.

KUDOS

  1. Tritch for his immediate and characteristic enthusiasm and support.
  2. Wayne Redekop for his donation of all legal services including incorporation and drawing up of numerous contracts.
  3. Gary Sandal for building a beautiful scale model of the track which became the focal point of our fund raising and for much other help including the construction of the pavilion.
  4. Rolly Meisel for aerial photography of the school track.
  5. Canadian Niagara Power for donation of security lighting.
  6. Herbie Maracle for drawing up architectural plans for the construction of the field house.
  7. Dave Fyke for Field House construction.
  8. Rasch and Chambers for donation of survey services.
  9. Russ Wilson and Gerry Mulholland for fund raising strategy and services.
  10. Amanda Louws, RCBHS Fitness Club president, and all staff and students for fund raising.
  11. Citizen coaches George Krupa and Kevin Knight. George for coaching a generation of notable pole vaulters including Canadian champion Jason Wurster. Kevin for field event coaching and a long time liaison with Track Niagara.
  12. Ken Gibbins for developing computer software that enabled RCBHS to smoothly run major track meets.
  13. Jim and Jane Manske for great support from the RCBHS Physical Education department.
  14. For contributions in excess of $20,000 each for adopting lanes on the track: Crystal Beach Pride Association, Ridgeway Lions Club, Stevensville Kinsmen Club, Stevensville Parks Improvement Committee, RCBHS Staff and Students (Tritch's Lane) and the Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kinsmen. 15. For the many other parents, friends, grads, local and distant families and clubs who collectively donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Pride Field project.
  15. Jim Flake for landscaping services.
  16. Dave Crown for landscaping services.
  17. Clyde Brooks for fence construction.
  18. Rick Yarrow for construction and installation of bleachers.
Visit the Pride Field Donor List.

A FOOTNOTE: Most of this is from my memory of events 20 years ago. I know there are errors and omissions. Please feel free to email me for updates at skerrett@vaxxine.com

Garry Skerrett