Field Hockey Centre Launches Fundraiser to Develop World-Class Field in Ottawa
The Field Hockey Centre is a newly created not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement and growth of field hockey in Ottawa and the surrounding areas. The Field Hockey Centre announced its first fundraising initiative to support the construction of two world-class pitches.
The foundation for this group of devoted volunteers comes from one of the organization’s primary partners, the Nepean Nighthawks Field Hockey Club. The Nighthawks, founded in 2002, are a field hockey powerhouse that started off as a small local club in Ontario, that has experienced exponential growth over the years. Faced with these unprecedented levels of growth, the Nighthawks’ registration and programming is at its maximum capacity due to a lack of local field hockey facilities. This ground-breaking project will provide a new site to address the recent explosion of field hockey participation in Ottawa by offering more space for programming to play.
The Field Hockey Centre has adopted a vision that places the value of a community-first approach at the forefront of their initiative. Their views on creating this field to unite the community, serve the underserved and foster sport participation for life, have allowed them to develop strong partnerships not only with the Nighthawks, but with the City of Ottawa and the Indo-Canadian Community Centre as well. Sandeep Chopra, Director of the Field Hockey Centre, is very excited to have this project brought to life, with tomorrow’s sport enthusiasts leading the way:
“So many young people have come forward to help with this project and they are bringing a brand-new sense of energy to the manner of operations, as well as how to make field hockey an inclusive sport for all.”
Field Hockey Canada applauds the Nepean Nighthawks for their vision and leadership of this project. Supporting the development of world-class facilities is critical to the growth of our sport. According to Susan Ahrens, CEO of Field Hockey Canada, the construction of official fields in Ottawa will have an immense impact not just on Ottawa, but on the national hockey community:
“As a facility-driven sport, the development of purpose-built hockey fields is integral to the growth and development of our sport. By virtue of fact this a dual field facility, this project has the added benefit of opening avenues for future hosting of major international hockey events. If we as a sport are to reach our shared goals of community growth and international success, projects such as this are essential.”
This initiative is bound to have a ripple effect across Canada, connecting the greater hockey community from coast to coast.
Raising the Funds
The new facility will include two lit synthetic field hockey pitches, spectator seating, change rooms, maintenance/storage, a clubhouse, and a perimeter fitness trail. The City of Ottawa has already identified a piece of land and has committed to matching community funds of up to $1 million. However, with the total estimated cost of $3.5 million, fundraising will remain a crucial element required to drive this facility’s production.
Ian Bird, former Olympian and active Quebec community member, who volunteers with the Chelsea Phoenix Field Hockey Club, is excited and supportive of this fundraising project, as this new facility will help connect the Ottawa and Quebec field hockey communities: “Congratulations to the Field Hockey Centre partners and volunteers. You have created a big vision for the field hockey community to rally around for the upcoming fundraising campaign. Great to see this getting underway!”
Field Hockey Canada is wishing the best of luck to this team of volunteers in our field hockey community, as they pursue this trailblazing journey and we encourage you to check out their website to learn more about the project and its progress.
Be a part of this project today by donating to their campaign at https://fieldhockeycentre.ca/donate/ to support the development and growth of field hockey in Canada!
