Godziuk Looking for new Track Equipment to stay at Scott Park

Photo submitted: Paul Bourgoin ( right), Athletic Director form École des Beaux-Lacs, presents a $4000 cheque on behalf of the East Central Francophone School Board to Larry Godziuk (Left) from the Bonnyville Football Association.

Larry Godziuk, Bonnyville Amateur Football Association (BAFA), is appealing local school boards and the Municipal District (M.D.) of Bonnyville for new track-and-field equipment for Ray Scott Park. This new equipment would then stay at the park, and solve the issue of each school lugging their own equipment for each track-and-field competition.

“Rather than have the schools haul their equipment, their high-jump mats and starting blocks, they would be able to show up here and host track meets with the equipment that’s already here. But that’s expensive,” said Godziuk.

The equipment list totals $115,000, including a pole-vault mat which costs $25,000 alone.

On Tuesday, Paul Bourgoin, (pictured) athletic director of École de Beaux Lacs, presented a $4,000 cheque to Godziuk on behalf of the East Central Francophone School Board toward equipment. This adds to the $57,000 matching Community Facility Enhance Program (CFEP) grant made by the provincial government two weeks ago. The pool of donations is growing.

“The big thing is it’s equipment we’ll have access to,” said Bourgoin. “Usually when you bring stuff that’s how it gets wrecked.”

Godziuk met with the M.D. of Bonnyville on Wednesday, and will meet soon with the Town. He’s also hoping for any donations from the Northern Lights Public School division, the Catholic School Board, and local businesses.

“[Hopefully] They see the value that it could add to the community by putting some of the stuff in for us,” Godziuk said.

Godziuk anticipates at least five track and field meets will be held at Scott Park next year.

Also, if new equipment is funded, it could increase the chances Bonnyville hosts future ASAA zone and provincials competitions.