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West Shore youth sports at capacity, 'run ragged', in need of investment

The president of Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association says in 2 years, clubs will be turning kids away
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The Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association is struggling to find enough time on the ice for kids to practice. (Photo courtesy of Damian Kowalewich)

A lack of new facilities, existing amenities in need of maintenance and a population steadily on the rise have created the perfect storm for West Shore youth sports organizations, who are B次元官网网址渞unning raggedB次元官网网址 to meet demand.

B次元官网网址淚 don't think we have more than a 24-month window before there's going to be people excluded from playing in all the sports,B次元官网网址 said Harold Bloomenthal, who has volunteered for 15 years as president of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, which has roughly 760 members.

Limited time on the ice at Westhills Arena has forced the non-profit organization to cut back on skill development sessions, limit registration for tournaments and have teams share space for practice. 

B次元官网网址淎s it stands, this year, we were able to accommodate everybody, but only just,B次元官网网址 says Bloomenthal. B次元官网网址淏ut our hockey program is not as good right now as it was five years ago, and it's simply because we don't have time in the facility to be as good.B次元官网网址

And the story is the same for other youth sports, which collectively represents B次元官网网址渢housandsB次元官网网址 of West Shore kids, says Bloomenthal.

Wanting to know how other organizations are also faring, Bloomenthal met with representatives from other West Shore grassroots sports, including lacrosse, rugby, basketball, baseball and soccer.

B次元官网网址淚 wasn't surprised that the outcome was all of those folks were struggling to run their programs too,B次元官网网址 says Bloomenthal.

Lack of access to soccer fields, a lacrosse box B次元官网网址渇alling apartB次元官网网址 and baseball diamonds in B次元官网网址減oor repair,B次元官网网址 were some of the problems facing West Shore clubs, he says.

B次元官网网址淚t all came tumbling out. In general, nobodyB次元官网网址檚 complaining so much about the existing facilities; the issue is simply there is not enough.

B次元官网网址淏ut we can't keep having more families and more children coming to the West Shore and no additional facilities to offer them. How does that possibly work?B次元官网网址

Bloomenthal says the group of youth sports leaders were preparing themselves to approach West Shore municipalities to raise awareness of their plight and ask for help.

But then news broke that the City of Langford was considering spending $35 million to buy Westhills YW/YMCA Langford Aquatic Centre.

The potential purchase has left the clubs nervous there wonB次元官网网址檛 be enough money to help them maintain existing facilities and provide new ones.

B次元官网网址淚t's not only up to Langford,B次元官网网址 said Bloomenthal. B次元官网网址淏ut in this instance, the news about the YMCA triggered everybody. We feel really vulnerable because that's a tremendous amount of money.B次元官网网址

Currently, the five West Shore municipalities B次元官网网址 Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Highlands and Metchosin B次元官网网址 collaborate on some recreation services through the West Shore Parks and Recreation (WSPR) Society.

Acknowledging future recreation facilities should be planned collaboratively to ensure the West Shore has B次元官网网址渁dequate and appropriately located facilities,B次元官网网址 the WSPR has set the wheels in motion to create a Recreation Master Plan, said a City of Langford spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淭he master plan will guide future facility development and service delivery discussions and set the foundation for discussions related to cost share and/or ownership arrangements,B次元官网网址 said the spokesperson.

While welcoming of the master plan, Bloomenthal says youth sports leaders want more clarity and reassurance they are included in the B次元官网网址渂igger pictureB次元官网网址 for recreation on the West Shore in the future.

B次元官网网址淏ecause we aren't in charge,B次元官网网址 he says. B次元官网网址淲e want to know from the people who are in charge what the remedy for this is going to be and how it's going to fit into the other plans they have.B次元官网网址 

B次元官网网址淵outh sports organizations are largely volunteer-run and mostly for kids at a grassroots level, we want to know that those needs are going to be met.

B次元官网网址淔oolish as it may be, I'm the kind of guy who's losing sleep over this.B次元官网网址

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Ben Fenlon

About the Author: Ben Fenlon

Multimedia journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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