On May 25, Niagara College Director of Athletics and Student Engagement Michele O’Keefe joined representatives from the Canada Summer Games Niagara 2022 Host Society, the Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) at Canada Games Park, where it was announced that a new sports performance centre will honour the legacy of late Niagara philanthropist David S. Howes.
The David S. Howes Sport Performance Centre, named in recognition of a $655,000 grant from the NCF’s David S. Howes Fund, will contribute to the success of future local athletes by providing world-class sport services and programs right here in the Niagara Region.
The new facility is a shining example of how the Canada Summer Games will create a lasting legacy for the Niagara sports community for years to come.
“The NCF’s generous donation creates an amazing spark for the Niagara sport future,” said O’Keefe, who is a Board Member and Chair of the Legacy Committee with the Niagara 2022 Games. “The David S. Howes Sport Performance Centre is a critical piece for the development of Niagara’s next gen of national and international sport champions.”
From left: Bryan Rose, Executive Director of the Niagara Community Foundation, Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society, Ian Gordon, Chair of Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, and Michele O’Keefe, NC Director of Athletics & Student Engagement, Board member for the Niagara 2022 Host Society and Chair of Legacy Committee for the 2022 Canada Games. Photo credit: Niagara 2022 Host Society
The 6,000 square foot facility, located inside the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre at Canada Games Park, will be the first regional training centre of the CSIO, offering training, performance testing, nutrition, mental performance training and more to local athletes and coaches. Following the 2022 Canada Games, which take place between August 6 to 21, the facility will be managed Sport Niagara, a new legacy organization created to maintain, build on and optimize the benefits achieved by hosting the Canada Games in Niagara.
Read the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games media release to learn more about the David S. Howes Sport Performance Centre.
NC staff, faculty, students and alumni continue to be involved with the Niagara 2022 Games in various roles and, in September 2021, the College was named the Games’ official Experiential and Digital Production Partner. The NC Welland Campus will also host basketball and volleyball games during the competition in August.
“We’re excited to host basketball and volleyball on-campus as part of the Canada Games,” said O’Keefe. “There’s no doubt that this will be an incredible opportunity for community athletes to receive a first-hand look at what it takes to play at the next level. We hope to get young athletes inspired.”
Stay tuned for more features about how the NC community is contributing to the success of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.
