Municipal and provincial politicians have rescued a nearly empty 1994 Commonwealth Games legacy trust dedicated to high-performance athletes in Saanich.
On Monday, the provincial and federal governments granted a combined $1.5 million to rejuvenate the ailing trust, which subsidizes rent for elite athletics groups at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
The original fund was nearly dry, falling seven years short of its 25 year termination date of 2019.
Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard realized this and called upon two more fellow guardians, MLAs Ida Chong and MLA Murray Coell, who were part of the facilityB次元官网网址檚 genesis with Leonard in 1993. At that time, Chong was a Saanich councillor with Leonard and Coell was mayor.
B次元官网网址淚n our 2011 and 12 budget meetings for Saanich, we saw that the fund was not going to have enough money to make 2019,B次元官网网址� Leonard said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a problem most people werenB次元官网网址檛 aware of.B次元官网网址�
Chong and Coell went to bat for the Commonwealth trust fund, scoring $750,000 from B.C. and another $750,000 from Own the Podium to fund the trust through 2019.
B次元官网网址淚t honours the agreement that was made with us, the Boardworks diving club, and our fellow user groups, the synchronized swimming, water polo and the swimming clubs, to train here with affordable rates,B次元官网网址� said diving coach Tommy McLeod of Boardworks, the home of two-time Saanich Olympian Riley McCormick.
B次元官网网址淚t means we donB次元官网网址檛 have to find other ways to pay for pool time, which varies a lot across the country and our rates are among the best.B次元官网网址�
The $1.5 million is the latest commitment to high performance athlete facilities in Greater Victoria, with University of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 upcoming Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities, upgrades to the Beaver-Elk Lake rowing centre, the Rugby Canada Centre for Excellence in Langford, and the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence in Saanich.
B次元官网网址淏ack (when the Commonwealth fund was set up) everyone thought interest rates would be 18 and 19 per cent, not the three per cent interest the fund has been earning, which is why itB次元官网网址檚 drying up,B次元官网网址� Leonard said.
B次元官网网址淚t would have meant an increase in property taxes, at a difficult time to do that, so I approached Murray Coell and Ida Chong.B次元官网网址�
The mayor also recalled Gerald Berger, a federal negotiator at the time who saw the need for a legacy trust fund. Berger passed away in 1998, but is honoured on a plaque at Commonwealth pool.
B次元官网网址淗e was quite visionary, otherwise we would have had the event and the next day realized these athletes canB次元官网网址檛 afford to be here.B次元官网网址�
Simon Whitfield and KidSport representatives were also at the announcement to unveil a new six-metre wide KidSport mural that honours Olympians whoB次元官网网址檝e trained at Commonwealth pool. The mural was designed by KidSport VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 director Archie Louis, and focuses on the connection of child athletes with local Olympians.
B次元官网网址淲e want kids who are here to know Olympians train here just like they do,B次元官网网址� said Whitfield, a two time Olympic medalist in triathlon who has swam at Commonwealth pool for 15 years.
Only a few athletes are honoured on the mural, Whitfield and swimmer Ryan Cochrane among them, but thereB次元官网网址檚 room for more, Whitefield said.
B次元官网网址淩ick Say was a three-time Olympian, captain of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Olympic swim team, and he swam as many metres in this pool more than anyone outside of Cochrane, and thereB次元官网网址檚 no presence of him here, yet," Whitfield continued.
"(Say) wanted to quit at one point. So if the kid who is 14 and thinking about quitting realizes they are in lane four, exactly where Rick Say swam, to know that Say went through tough days here, too, hopefully that kid can keep going and reap the health and well-being sport brings.B次元官网网址�
sports@vicnews.com
