The Best Seats
In The House

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.

One of 69 schools in the Anglophone South School District, Glen Falls School represents only a small percentage of the students in Saint John, New Brunswick. While membership among such a large group provides opportunities for collaborations and community, it also comes with challenges. Similar to the way in which a child of a large family may receive divided attention from their parents, small schools like Glen Falls must share the District’s resources with surrounding institutions. Nonetheless, the uniqueness of Glen Falls School cannot be ignored and is even represented by its mascot — a bright, yellow star.

As we near the final weeks of spring, many children and youth have begun to count down the
days until summer break begins. While there is no shortage of activities available, parents still find themselves with the same annual predicament: who will provide supervision to all of these newly released students? Fortunately, many residents of Oshawa, Ontario are able to turn to BGC Durham for summer activities that are fun, safe, and reliable.

Throughout the years, Sport Systems has been privileged to partner with numerous schools and community resources dedicated to serving children and youth. Whether assisting in the renovation of a high school football field, equipping a local playground with accessible seating solutions, working with a science and history museum on a customized project, or providing an after-school program with new basketball equipment, we have seen firsthand how a safe and well-maintained environment promotes the development of the youngest members of society. One organization that Sport Systems has made several contacts through is the BGC of Canada. Working with several different locations throughout Ontario, our team has been able to provide equipment ranging from safety wall padding to gym divider curtains for various facilities. Recently, we were invited to collaborate with BGC London to install new basketball systems in their gymnasium.

Education is a highly competitive field not only for applicants, but for schools themselves. With
an increased number of colleges to choose from, as including options for studying abroad or in other parts of the country, schools are faced with the challenge of distinguishing themselves from their competition. Algonquin College, with its main campus in Ottawa, Ontario, is a leading example in successfully recruiting and retaining students.

As every devoted sports fan knows, the second half of a game can hold more weight than the first when determining its outcome. Many historic moments have been made in sports when a team comes from behind to make a heroic comeback. Just as many disappointments have occurred, when a team is over-confident or has lenient strategies. The key factors that determine the successful outcome for a team are a strong strategy and an endurance that persists through any challenges that arise. Sport Systems is familiar with these principles not only as they pertain to sports, but also in regards to project management.

Having lived through two World Wars and the Great Depression, Georges Vanier is perhaps one of Canada’s most decorated soldiers. The first French Canadian Roman Catholic to hold the appointment of Governor-General of Canada, he was also a fearless leader. His legend lives on throughout Canada as both a respected diplomat and humanitarian, having dedicated much of his life to helping destitute refugees following the war.

As such an iconic figure in Canadian history, it is no surprise that his name now appears in history books, on buildings, and on plaques across the country. Additionally, his name is honoured by a number of schools including the home of one of our latest projects at Georges Vanier Catholic School in Belleville, Ontario.

For many people, a reference to the “saints” may conjure up a very specific image. For example, some might associate the title with religious beliefs or medieval artwork. Others, however, may connect the word to a pop culture or sports reference -- such as the film Rudy or the New Orleans Saints. For the people of Thunder Bay, Ontario, however, the term serves as a reminder of St. Patrick High School.

East Side Unit

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. For those of us who love the game, we played in our driveways as kids, followed our favourite college or professional teams on television, attended school games, and eventually became players ourselves.

While we all certainly enjoy watching something come to fruition, there is something extra special about being involved in the revitalization of something as well. Over the years, we’ve been blessed to be involved in a number of these types of projects ranging from local community centres and schools all the way to nationally recognized institutions such as Queen’s University.

We’ve been granted access to stripped out gymnasiums and open athletic fields to design and eventually install state-of-the-art athletic equipment and infrastructure. From simple bleachers, to basketball systems to complete grandstands designed to accommodate tens of thousands of fans, these projects have and always will hold a special place in our hearts.