The Best Seats
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In a perfect world, every gymnasium would be identical, making producing the equipment and padding required for these facilities a breeze. What makes our work so fun and meaningful however, lies in the fact that this is not the case in any facility. 

Having worked with thousands of gymnasiums, schools, community centres and post-secondary institutions around the world, we know that no two facilities or projects are alike. Although we love the variety working in this industry provides us, we’ve also grown to have a unique affinity for customized projects. Whether it’s a new set of grandstands for a university, a new basketball system for a community centre or completing a unique padding project, we love taking on a challenge and watching the solution come to fruition.

Since it was established in the 1980s, Dovercourt Recreation has been a staple in serving the National Capital Region with recreational programming for children and community members. In addition to their overall goal of building a healthy, active and engaged community through recreation, it is Eastern Ontario’s first HIGH FIVE accredited organizations.

Currently run by the Dovercourt Recreation Association as part of the City of Ottawa’s recreational programming, representatives from the city reached out to our team with concern about some of the equipment located at the Dovercourt complex.

With the rise in mental health awareness, we welcome opportunities to participate in projects that foster such development. For one of our recent projects, we were proud to have been invited to lead a project at Canada’s largest research facility for mental health and addictions.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is the result of an amalgamation of four separate facilities - the Queen Street Mental Health Centre, the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, the Addiction Research Foundation, and the Donwood Institute. 

Having completed a number of projects in the beautiful state of Nebraska, we returned for another job, this time  in the state’s Capital city of Lincoln. Originally named Landcaster, the city was renamed in 1869 after the great President Abraham Lincoln. In that same year, the University of Nebraska was established in Lincoln and today remains the largest university in the state, serving nearly 30,000 students.

Our partners at Crouch Recreation in Omaha, brought us yet another opportunity in the Cornhusker State, this time at an established Christian school in neighbouring Lincoln. With a history dating back to the 1950s, Lincoln Christian School has been serving local families and the community with faith-based education for decades, currently boasting nearly 900 students and over 80 faculty members.

Our custom padding department recently answered the call for another unusual and highly customized padding job.  We were approached by Crestwood High School in Peterborough, Ontario to design some padding as part of some recent renovations to the gymnasium.

Serving as home to the Mustangs, the school began a list of renovations which included some brand-new storage units that would allow for additional athletic equipment to be stored when not in use. Because these units run along the edge of the sports court they required the installation of safety padding to protect student athletes.

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.

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.

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.

With business connections extending overseas, families geographically scattered, and new vacation destinations continually being introduced, most find themselves in an airport at one point or another. While flying is one of the most common modes of transportation, its biggest deterrent is discomfort. Teaming up to address the potential concerns of travelers, the Halifax-Stanfield International Airport has worked hard to address the physical discomforts of travelers while the US Customs and Border
Protection services (USCBP) maintains safety as its highest priority.

To be successful in any of life’s endeavors, a certain amount of discipline is required. The idea of
behind-the-scene investment is simply put with the phrase, “you get what you give.” For example, a musician is expected to frequently rehearse leading up to a performance, and a student is expected to study before a test. When it comes to athletics, the amount of time spent training off the field or the court informs an athlete’s performance during each game. Recognizing the important role that training plays in the success of their athletes, St. Mark High School has invested in providing their students with the facilities needed to perfect their craft.