The Best Seats
In The House

Depending on who you ask, some may tell you that the gymnasium inside an academic institution is the heart of the building. As it is often located centrally inside a building, it naturally and easily exists as the location where gatherings take place.

In addition to assemblies and other events, gymnasiums are the hub for indoor sports, attracting spectators not only from within the school but those from outside as well, such as friends and family.

As athletic programming continues to ramp up across Canada and the United States, these institutions are doing everything they can to remain relevant with regards to the programs they offer, as well as with the equipment located inside their gymnasiums.

As with any high traffic area, the opportunity to more actively brand your organization or team is highly beneficial in the gymnasium of a highly spirited school.  With many of the walls already adorned with banners and ribbons from years gone by, today’s institutions are starting from the ground up when it comes to branding their beloved schools.

While the winter of 2020 was slowly melting away in eastern Ontario, our team was contacted by
our friends at the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) as they were in search of the perfect seating solution.

Today, society is becoming increasingly aware of the need to preserve resources. From
composting and recycling to refurbished furniture and repurposed fashion, conservation serves two purposes: this intentional act not only mitigates the depletion of resources, but also increases the value of that which already exists. Translating this concept from material objects to societal institutions, one may note the many benefits of merging neighbouring schools. The merging of Madoc Public School and Centre Hastings Secondary School in particular, has proven to be an excellent example of combining resources in order to preserve them.

Don McGahan Clubhouse - McArthur Ave.

It is commonly believed that if everyone viewed the world through the eyes of children, society would be a much better place. Despite being at more preliminary stages of development, children see no value-based distinction amongst varying ethnicities, genders, or socioeconomic backgrounds. Implementing this child-like acceptance and celebrating the differences of each individual, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGC) has created a safe space for children and teens aged 6-18.

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.

Western University, in London, ON, is well loved for its athletic programs by students and fans alike. Recently, we highlighted Sport Systems' acquisition of a major project involving the TD Waterhouse Stadium. While such jobs are exciting to work on, Sport Systems recognizes the importance of our smaller-scale projects and executing them with the same level of excellence. For that reason, Sport Systems eagerly accepted the invitation to install floor coverings in Western’s gym.

 Known for its vast farmlands and access to water, Campbellford, Ontario is also often regarded as the midway point between the provincial capital of Toronto and the national capital of Ottawa.

While perhaps small in comparison to the above-named cities, Campbellford is home to a number of notable businesses including Church-Key Brewing Company, Biommer Chocolate Company, the Dart Container Corporation (foam cups anyone?), one of the regions last remaining rural cheese factories, as well as the home to the highly specialized wooden boat builder, Clarion Boats.

As anyone can reasonably expect, there has been a lot of talk about the 2020-21 school year and athletic programming. While few know how this year will shape up, there are plans currently being put in place in states and provinces across North America to ensure a safe return to school.

With the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, schools and countless numbers of businesses were instantly shuttered in the interest of public safety. Following these abrupt closures came a lot of questions, not only about how students would complete the school year, but what this could potentially mean for next year’s students.

Nestled high in the great Canadian North, the Northwest Territories is an expansive swath of land covering nearly 1.1 million km².The remote landscape is made up of forest, mountains, tundra and a number of islands dotting Canada’s Arctic archipelago.

In the central region of this vast Canadian Territory lies the city of Yellowknife. As the only city in the territory, the province’s capital resides along the northern shores of Great Slave Lake.

It was here where we were invited to participate in one of our most recent projects. As part of the Yellowknife Education District No. 1, we were invited to Sir John Franklin High School located in the eastern portion of the city. In search of a replacement solution for an outdated partition, our team was brought in to assess its current condition and provide a long-term solution to the gymnasium’s separation needs.

When it comes to your school or local gymnasium, much of the activities that take place on the court are athletic in nature and make up the majority of the time and energy spent in the space. For many facility managers and operators out there, getting bogged down in the day-to-day can sometimes get in the way of ensuring that these types of athletic spaces are working for us as well.

The fact is, your gymnasium should also serve your facility, be it a school or community centre, as an additional source of revenue. While this is common sense to many, there are a number of ways you might not have thought of that can contribute to your operation’s bottom line.