Auto dealer steps in to save St. Vital field of dreams
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/06/2017 (2472 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A local auto dealer has helped rescue the dream of a state-of-the-art athletic field destined to serve a diverse and underserved St. Vital community.
Dan Murray and his family were at Dakota Collegiate this morning for the naming-rights announcement of what will be known as Murray Field.
The Brandon native and owner of Murray Chevrolet contributed $250,000 for what, so far, is a $1.8 million outdoor facility scheduled to start construction in July and be finished by September.
The public-private project received just over $1 million from the City of Winnipeg, but it faced potential failure or a scaling down when the provincial government cancelled $1 million in support that has been promised by the previous NDP administration. That’s when Murray, and others such as Pinnacle recruitment company principals Dale Driedger and Wade Miller stepped up, along with a group of former alumni that became the non-profit group Friends of the Field.
Louis Riel School Division Superintendent Duane Brothers thanked all involved and all who contributed, especially Driedger, who not only contributed money but brought Murray into the project.
“I was struck by his humility. Obviously he is successful and he has a huge heart for kids in our community,” Brothers said of Murray.
The field will include artificial turf, a large scoreboard and a $180,000 basketball court. The Friends of the Field still hope to raise more money for field lights that will help sustain the long-term viability and maintenance through evening rentals of the facility.
“We need the lights,” Brothers said.
“It is my hope and prayer that this project and this model will be replicated throughout the City of Winnipeg and beyond so that all of our kids, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, will be able to play and compete in great, supportive environments. They all deserve it,” he said.
History
Updated on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 1:14 PM CDT: Typo fixed.