The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in conjunction with the three other school boards and the City of Greater Sudbury is proud to partner with Laurentian University to support upgrades to the Track and Field Complex on campus.

The City of Greater Sudbury and the four school boards, who operate the track in partnership with the university, will invest $600,000 and $225,000, respectively, in the project. 

“Each year our students look forward to taking part in the track and field events that are held here at Laurentian,” stated Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic Schools at a media conference held this morning at Laurentian University. “This new state of the art facility will allow our young athletes to have fun as they take part in regular physical activity and enjoy a healthy lifestyle which translates into a healtheir community.”
 
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) also announced today a contribution of $865,000 to support upgrades to the Track and Field Complex, bringing total investments, as of today, to $2,190,000. 

“Our community has hosted important provincial and national level sporting events at Laurentian over the years and we will now be able to continue to do so on an improved track,” said Rick Bartolucci, minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Sudbury MPP. “Renovations to the Laurentian Track and Field Complex will ensure Sudbury has a premier outdoor athletics event site in northern Ontario.” 

Planned improvements to the Complex include rebuilding the tartan track, relocating the running pits and upgrading the sports field, lighting and stands. There is an urgency to renovate the Track and Field Complex to support Sudbury’s bids to host the Ontario Summer Games in 2010 and the National Francophone Games in 2011, as well as future Paralympic activities and regional and provincial secondary school event competitions. 

Every year Bishop Alexander Carter hockey players tie up their skates and head to the Centennial Arena for an all out “Battle of the Sexes” on the hockey rink. The annual tradition presents a great opportunity to build a sense of community by involving Bishop Carter’s feeder schools, St. Anne, St. Charles and St. Mary Catholic elementary schools. Students from these schools look forward to participating in this event as it is not only a lot of fun but also gives them some insight as to what life in high school is really like.

The atmosphere of the afternoon hockey game is always packed with excitement as the Bishop Carter students are given the opportunity to buy out of classes so they may attend the event. Bishop Carter Catholic Secondary School makes a point of recognizing every student who participates in athletics during this day and also takes this unique opportunity to acknowledge all the school’s teams, coaches and players in true Gator Spirit.

Proceeds from the event and money raised from other community basketball tournaments were donated to the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Research Centre this year. Bishop Carter Catholic School teacher, Jean Gilles Laroque and Student Council President, Matt Harris presented a $500 cheque to Jacqueline Dell for Cancer Research.

Bishop Carter Catholic Secondary School would like to thank Mrs. Nelson and the B.A.C. staff for organizing this event.