The Manitoba Summer Games (MSG) will leave a forever-lasting legacy in our community.
From August 11 to 17, the best athletes from the Parkland and around the province will compete in various sports. This week-long event will be one to remember and for some, it will be the biggest event that they ever take part in.
The Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS) will play host to the track and field event. The track is currently renovating the games, which will soon include lines being painted. Just off the track is where you will find a 100' x 60' multi-sport court. That court will also undergo painting.
Designed by local students from Whitmore Elementary School in Dauphin and the DRCSS, Buckets & Borders will be in town next month to paint the court. The design represents our region's natural beauty and deep connection to nature with its sun motif and rippling water effect. It also honours the rich history of our area, featuring the Indigenous Medicine Wheel at the centre court, and Metis infinity symbols, and gives a nod to the Ukrainian heritage with the colours yellow and blue.
Clayton Swanton is co-chair of the MSG and is thrilled about the project.
"It's pretty amazing that a community this size can create legacy projects of this magnitude," said Swanton. "We're thrilled to see the track get re-done from the 2004 Games and this is the icing on top of the cake. Not just students from the DRCSS, but the entire community will have access."
Swanton was also very impressed at how the kids from Whitmore School stepped up.
"The inspiration was all student led which is fantastic," said Swanton. "There were also kids from the high school that stepped up. We brought everyone together, they got a blank canvas and came up with some beautiful designs."
Representatives from Buckets and Borders will be in town around the 11th of July to begin painting. The court will be fully painted and there will then be a Grand Opening to follow.
As of right now, there is no fence around the court. However, there is a plan in place.
"We're hoping, that's a budget thing, it depends how we do when it comes to our final push of sponsors ahead of the games," offered Swanton. "We're hoping to be able to fence the back of it and 10 feet up the sides so that it is a cohesive space with the track."
Swanton adds that the fencing likely will not happen before the Games take place.
"We're hoping as a post Games legacy in the fall that we can make it happen," ended Swanton.
Swanton added that any business that is a $50,000 or more sponsor of the Manitoba Summer Games will be affiliated with the Buckets and Borders project. There will also be a documentary video of the finished product, which will be available in the future.
