The Best Seats
In The House

Since the earliest days of Christianity, the Catholic church has made impressive efforts towards establishing itself and expanding its influence around the world. From orphanages and schools to soup kitchens and hospitals, the Catholic church continues to serve communities across North America and beyond. One of the communities that has benefited from the Catholic church’s contributions is located in Mississauga, Ontario. As part of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the St. Francis Xavier Secondary School has provided quality education, moral guidance, and a source of belonging for over 30 years.

Basketball courts located within housing complexes are always high-traffic areas, providing free entertainment, exercise and community engagement. But with consistent use and exposure to the elements, equipment such as basketball hoops, nets and backboards inevitably require repair or replacement. When local officials at Strathcona Heights found themselves in this very situation, they requested the expertise of Sport Systems to revitalize their outdoor court.

Bennington, Nebraska, a suburb outside of Omaha offers a, “safe, small-town atmosphere with the convenience of the larger Omaha metropolitan area [nearby].” Meeting the requirements of a classic Midwestern town, Bennington offers a public library, several parks and maintains a low crime rate. On the other hand, the close proximity to the city provides easy access to job opportunities, universities and entertainment. With these appealing features, Bennington is an ideal area to live for commuters and as such has seen a consistent uptick in its population.

Recreation centres provide community members with access to a variety of resources. With intentional efforts made to promote inclusivity, programming can range from bingo for the elderly
to after-school programs for children and swimming facilities for families. However, catering to a diverse community also presents challenges. For individuals with physical, cognitive, or behavioural challenges, these centres must also provide properly trained staff and additional accommodations in their buildings. With organizations such as the Dovercourt Recreation Centre, special attention has been placed on meeting the needs of those experiencing behavioural difficulties. To address the centre’s goal, our team was brought in to provide a safe “calming space” for their facility.

Sports play a significant role in the lives of many students ranging from elementary school through high school. While encouraging coaches, new uniforms and exceptional facilities contribute towards the positive experiences of players, the support of family and friends is what ultimately makes or breaks their time on the field or court. Understanding the importance of family and friend involvement during athletic events, a school in Blind Brook, New York reached out to Sports Systems and requested help in better accommodating their visitors.

Towards the beginning of the summer, we introduced Marian High School to our readers while highlighting the Indoor Telescopic Bleachers that we provided for them. While most would expect a private, all-girls Catholic school to emphasize the value of extracurricular activities, Marian High School’s devotion to sports has earned them quite the reputation. Offering 11 Class A, state-sanctioned sports to their students, it was easy to see why the initial project we completed was so important. However, the addition of new indoor seating was only the beginning of our professional relationship with the school. Being recruited by the institution once again, our team began work on another seating solution — one that would be installed outdoors.

Oftentimes, Sport Systems is approached by clients for a variety of reasons. While new equipment is often requested to replace old or damaged items, there are scenarios in which the update is needed for rebranding purposes. Contacting our team for the latter reason, Central Hastings School determined that new stage and wall padding was in order to help accommodate the transition that the school was undergoing.

In Canada, public parks are commonplace and easily blend in with the scenery. With convenient access to a variety of outdoor venues, it is easy to forget the intentionality and effort that allowed for these facilities to be built. Wishing to maintain the same proactive approach that established these parks, the city of Cornwall reached out to Sport Systems and requested help in the renovation of several locations. Visiting multiple parks throughout the city, our team ultimately replaced aging bleachers with new, state-of-the-art alternatives.

Vermont, known as the “Green Mountain State,” has a strong reputation for its beauty. With scenic mountain overlooks, thick, green forests and wildlife of all varieties, it’s a dream come true for any nature enthusiast. Despite its breathtaking scenery and often tranquil environments, however, the need for proper law enforcement and infrastructure still exists. Recognizing the need to maintain public safety, the town of Wilmington recently requested the assistance of Sport Systems in the renovation of their police station’s holding cells.

Whether located in urban or rural settings, public parks are commonplace in today’s society. However, while the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) has established access to such spaces a basic human right, the conditions of each park often varies. While upgrading pre-existing parks is easy to overlook or put on the back burner, the benefits that such recreational spaces offer justify the investment of each municipality’s resources.