Kincardine Minor Soccer puts $60,000 into new washroom facility at Bruce Avenue fields

Kincardine Minor Soccer has kept its promise and presented a cheque for $60,000 to the Municipality of Kincardine, to help pay for the new washroom facility at the Bruce Avenue fields.

Several members of the minor soccer association executive, as well as Kincardine mayor Gerry Glover and parks and recreation staff, were on hand for the presentation, Tuesday morning, June 29.

“Life is a journey,” said president Stuart Killin, “and in some countries, football or 'soccer' is more than life. Each journey has a story - and how we got here is one of them.”

For him, it was coaching Timbits soccer in 2003 on the old Penetangore fields, which is now home to a subdivision.

A plan was laid in 2005-06 to sell those fields and use the money to develop the fields on Bruce Avenue.

“In doing so, it allowed for the development of the subdivision to the north (Stonehaven),” said Killin. “There are about 250 homes built there, with tax revenues in the region of $1.25-million. Soccer is good business!”

He said it took a long time to finally see the completion of the new building which houses washrooms, a concession stand, and equipment storage.

“Our first presentation to Kincardine council for this facility was in November, 2008,” said Killin. “We repeated that presentation every few years as we continued to fund-raise for this project.”

He said many, many people were involved in the fund-raising efforts, including Enbridge, team sponsors, and soccer executive members, past and present, who worked tirelessly knowing they would not directly benefit from this endeavour.

“Such is the community we have in this town,” said Killin. “But the most memorable, for me, was the Montgomery Ford “Drive 4 UR Community” event in June, 2013, spearheaded by Gord Kemp who organized the day. There were soccer games, test drives, a barbecue - it was a great day and raised almost $6,000!”

He said minor soccer wants to add a nice picnic shelter, players’ benches or shelters, some bike racks and a playground to the soccer fields.

“I’ll quote what Winston Churchill said in November, 1942, after the Battle of El Alamein," said Killin. "This was the first time the Axis forces had not only been stopped but put into retreat, and three years later the world was at last at peace: ‘This is not the end … It’s not even the beginning of the end … But it is perhaps the end of the beginning ...’

“Let’s hope we can do the next project in three years, not 14 years!”

Killin presented the cheque to Glover and said, “Minor soccer said we would fund-raise $60,000 and we did. Promises delivered.”

Recreation director Karen Kieffer said the new washroom facility was completed last year and was opened to the public. However, this summer is the first time minor soccer will be using it. The soccer season began Monday (July 5).



Kincardine Minor Soccer president Stuart Killin (centre, front) announces the presentation of $60,000 to the Municipality of Kincardine; with him, from left, are minor soccer secretary Kelly Broere, registrar Anne Marie Ruthven, vice-president Mark Vanderwalle, and Gord Kemp of Montgomery Ford



Lila Vanderwalle (left), 10, of Kincardine, and her eight-year-old brother, Luke, get a refreshing drink from the fountain at the new washroom facility at the Bruce Avenue soccer fields in Kincardine



Kincardine Minor Soccer president Stuart Killin (holding cheque, left) presents a cheque for $60,000 to Kincardine mayor Gerry Glover, Tuesday morning, June 29; with them, are members of the soccer executive, registrar Anne Marie Ruthven (left), referee co-ordinator Wendy Lake, secretary Kelly Broere, Gord Kemp of Montgomery Ford, and vice-president Mark Vanderwalle