麻豆社区

George Arcand says the reasoning behind Softball Yukon's decision to extend a hand up to the Friends of Mount Sima is simple.

"A sport facility is more than just a field or a hill,鈥� the executive director of the territorial body explained yesterday. "It is a home to many youth, a place to discover their strengths, develop friendships, leadership skills and accomplishments.鈥�

That, alongside promoting healthy lifestyles, athlete development, and the ability to host elite-level championships, is the reason Softball Yukon announced $70,000 in funding towards the ski hill yesterday.

The funding comes in the form of a $20,000 donation alongside a $50,000 interest-free bridge loan.

Community Services Minister Brad Cathers also announced the government will match Softball Yukon's funding. In September, Cathers publicly promised to match up to $70,000 in private or corporate sponsorship.

Arcand said Softball Yukon has faced its share of challenges in the past, and noted the development and maintenance of a sporting facility is a massive undertaking.

The Pepsi Softball Centre would not exist, for instance, without corporate partners, funding grants, player fees, tournaments and fund-raising.

"Here in the North, more than anywhere else, sport is part of the fabric of our lives, and needs to remain as such,鈥� Arcand said. "We sincerely hope that this contribution will be a catalyst needed to ensure all pledges, corporate and government support required so that our youth and community have their home.

"Mount Sima, for this winter season, investing in youth, sport and healthy living has an immeasurable return on investment.鈥�

Arcand said Softball Yukon's funding of Sima will not affect any current programs or the upcoming junior world championship.

Bill Stonehouse, Softball Yukon's board president, added the board was in unanimous agreement on the issue. He said if the organization had given less than $70,000, the Friends of Sima group would have had to continue to fund-raise before moving forward.

"How much is it worth to have the youth having fun on the hill?鈥� Stonehouse asked. "How do you put a dollar on it, right? It's priceless. That's what you come down to. If you live in the community, you have to give back, or you don't have a community.鈥�

Laurie Henderson, president of the Friends of Mount Sima, said while this contribution does not put athletes "on the top of Mount Sima yet,鈥� the news is a definite boost to the hopes of a downhill ski season this winter.

"We are now back in the position where all those pledges 鈥� that is our drive for the next two to three weeks 鈥� that is now our focus,鈥� she said to a large group of supporters at Sport Yukon for the announcement. "We will be turning back to those of you who are in this room for delivery of those sponsorships, and I'm quite confident that we will get them.鈥�

After securing this necessary base funding from Softball Yukon, Henderson said the Friends group will now need to follow up on pledges, negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the Great Northern Ski Society to gain usage of the hill, and seek out a general manager.

"There are things that we have to do, but they are coming into place,鈥� she said. "The money from Softball Yukon, as generous as it is, we are not taking it without considerable thought. Realization on any of these dollars from the user groups, the Yukon Government, or Softball Yukon will all depend on getting that pledge money in the bank. I think we are starting to see a bit of a groundswell that this is something that this community supports.鈥�

Friends' vice-president Rod Taylor said the group remains optimistic Sima will open this winter, but much still needs to happen, including the collection of at least 85 per cent of the pledge dollars and a minimum $50,000 from the corporate community.

"Truthfully, we'd like to raise somewhere in the neighbourhood of $75,000, because we know that one of the issues in the past has been these contingencies 鈥� you never know in terms of not only weather, but mechanical breakdown etc.,鈥� Taylor said. "We've always said this is going to take a combination of all the governments, corporate community, citizens, and we're that close.鈥�