Wesmen
Wesmen in the Community
Buck Pierce and Dave Donaldson Join UWinnipeg As Adjunct Coaches
Wednesday, May 23, 2013
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Children and youth in Winnipeg’s inner city will be playing flag touch football inside The University of Winnipeg’s new UNITED Health & RecPlex when it opens next year with two pro athletes offering guidance: Winnipeg Blue Bomber quarterback Buck Pierce and former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Dave Donaldson are joining the Wesmen family as adjunct coaches. In 2010, Donaldson founded the Inner City Youth Football Program (with Markus Howell, another former player who now coaches with the Bombers). The program offers more than 100 inner city youth in Grades 4, 5 and 6 who have limited financial means the chance to play football after school.
Hosting the football program on campus meshes with the commitments outlined in a unique Community Charter developed collaboratively by UWinnipeg and community members. The Community Charter, approved by UWinnipeg’s Board of Regents earlier this month, solidifies a legacy of access and inclusion at the UNITED Health and RecPlex for inner city youth.
“Partnering with exceptional athletes Buck Pierce and Dave Donaldson to host this established and successful football program enhances our Community Learning and Community Athletics mission,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor. “We are creating the most significant wellness and recreation destination in the heart of Winnipeg, one that provides the inner city with a world-class facility and gives neighbourhood children and teenagers a safe place to learn, play and belong.”
Financial barriers and lack of access to facilities prevents many inner city youth from participating in organized recreation and obtaining the numerous benefits associated with playing team sports. In the past several years, working closely with community agencies, UWinnipeg has created an effective community outreach program. This is only possible because of the support of generous funders and donors: The Government of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, Thomas Sill Foundation, Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program, Wawanesa, Sun Life, Rettie Family, Manitoba Blue Cross, David F. Anderson, The Forzani Group Sport Chek Power of Sports program and UWinnipeg students who elected to contribute through an annual athletics fee.
The UWinnipeg Community Athletics program now includes more than 250 boys and girls aged 8 to 18 who play on 13 Inner City Junior Wesmen community basketball, soccer, golf and wrestling teams. UWinnipeg provides coaching, uniforms, and equipment to participants for free through funding grants, plus practice space at the Duckworth Centre when possible. Once the new RecPlex opens on campus next year, UWinnipeg will be able to accommodate 500 neighbourhood youth with a full menu of sports, recreation and cultural activities to choose from including pow wow clubs.
“Dave Donaldson grew up in Winnipeg’s inner city and Buck Pierce is deeply committed to going the extra yard on and off the field to support this community,” said David Fitzpatrick, Dean of Kinesiology, UWinnipeg. “Pierce and Donaldson are important new resources and role models on campus, and can offer mentoring, coaching and insights to neighbourhood youth as well as our students and Wesmen athletes.”
“This is an awesome opportunity, it strengthens our football program in many ways, most especially for the kids who will get to play on an outstanding field and feel they are part of the University and can aspire to great things,” said Donaldson. “Once we have access to the RecPlex, my dream is to double the number of kids involved and turn this into an inner city football league. That’s what this partnership with UWinnipeg can accomplish.”
“This community has given me so much, and it is an honour for me to be able to give something back,” said Pierce. “I want to see our youth be given every opportunity to thrive and prosper.”
The UNITED Health and RecPlex construction and companion Duckworth Centre renovation is a $40 million project which began in Fall 2012 and is expected to be completed for Fall 2014.
BACKGROUND
The Inner City Youth Football Program started in 2010 for kids in Grades 4, 5 and 6.
It operates with funding from KidSport Winnipeg and is run by former Blue Bomber Dave Donaldson. The program encourages participation, teamwork and discipline while providing kids with a safe and fun environment. The program consists of bi-weekly practices with a final game between eight participating inner city schools: William Whyte, King Edward, Dufferin, Victoria-Albert, Norquay, John M King, Wellington and Pinkham.
Dave Donaldson “Double D” played both receiver and defensive back in his CFL career which included time with the B.C. Lions (1997-99), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2000-03), Ottawa Renegades (2004-05) and Toronto Argonauts (2006). Donaldson was a three-year starter with the University of Manitoba Bisons and played junior football for the now-defunct Winnipeg Hawkeyes. He was also an assistant coach for the Oak Park Raiders who won the Winnipeg High School Football League's 2008 ANAVETS Bowl. He recently added officiating for the CFL to his skill set.
Buck Pierce was born in Kansas and now calls Winnipeg home. Pierce signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after spending five years with the BC Lions. He played college football at New Mexico State from 2001–2004, starting at quarterback for most of his senior year. Pierce donates an extensive amount of time to charity work and was the recipient of the Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award which is given annually to a Blue Bomber player for their excellence in combining football ability, team camaraderie and extraordinary effort in the community and honours former Blue Bomber offensive lineman Ed Kotowich. Pierce attended New Mexico State University, in Las Cruces, New Mexico where he majored in kinesiology.
UNITED Health and RecPlex - Community Charter and Community Access Advisory Committee
The UNITED Health and RecPlex is an important new resource to University of Winnipeg students, faculty and staff, and to the inner city community. A Community Charter was conceived, created and accepted through a year of hard work and collaboration between the University and the community to ensure community access.
The Community Charter, approved by UWinnipeg’s Board of Regents in May 2013 and endorsed by the Community Access Advisory Committee outlines core principles: access, sustainability, respectfulness, accountability, openness.
A Community Access Advisory Committee is now active, chaired by David Fitzpatrick, Dean of Kinesiology, and comprised of eight University members and eight members of the broader community (including representatives from the Youth Agencies Alliance representing 19 community youth serving agencies, Spence Neighbourhood Association, and the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association.) Two subcommittees will meet over the summer to help develop programming and fundraising for youth programs.
UNITED Health and RecPlex - visit the UNITED Health and RecPlex website
· new three story structure
· large multi-use artificial turf field that can be converted to three cross court fields
· will accommodate soccer, football, ultimate, baseball and other field sports
· regulation four-lane 60 meter rubberized sprint track
· retractable batting cages and a practice gym
· a multi event room including a soundproofed room for drumming and pow wow groups, with ventilation to accommodate smudging and a community gym
· studio for activities such as yoga and dance
· multi-media lounge space for students and visitors with food and beverage kiosks
· new Lifespan Physical Activity and Health Research Centre containing
ü The Head's Up Concussion Institute
ü Institute for Inner-City Youth Sport Development
ü Health and Education Research Institute
ü Nutrition Counselling and Obesity Treatment Program
ü UWinnipeg Sun Life Diabetes Awareness and Education Program
ü Fitness and Motor Performance Assessment and Counselling
· new underground parkade will accommodate approximately 200 vehicles
· energy efficient with targeted Silver LEED construction
Renovated Duckworth Centre & new Health, Wellness and Healing Centre
· renovating 10,00 sq ft of Duckworth Centre, connected to new RecPlex via skybridge
· houses the Faculty of Kinesiology and its academic and athletic programs
· athletic therapy and massage therapy including sports medicine
· pharmacy including athletic therapy supplies
News Articles and Features
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/buck-goes-long-for-winnipeg-208619431.html
CTV News - http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=932136
University of Winnipeg Athletics Community Outreach Report
Executive Summary
Wesmen Inner City Sports Programs
The inner city initiative has become a priority to all Wesmen teams and staff. Wesmen athletes and coaches have been active in the community delivering, camps, clinics, and specialized visits to a variety of programs.
As well the community has been attending University of Winnipeg athletic events, workshops, leagues and clinics which brings thousands of youth and their parents onto our campus for a positive experience with us..
Our focus on establishing leagues and teams in the sports of soccer and basketball to help inner city kids connect to the University of Winnipeg and its athletes has been extremely successful. Over 150 inner city kids have participated in these leagues and teams in the last year and the plans for 2012 are to double these numbers.
Many partnerships have been formed with neighboring community agencies to help with the delivery of our inner city programming. As these partnerships continue to grow the University of Winnipeg and specifically the Athletics department will be even more effective in making the programming even more effective and long lasting.
Inner City Junior Wesmen programs in basketball and soccer will soon be expanded to include, wrestling, baseball and volleyball. They will plug themselves nicely into the framework we have developed to get young athletes onto our Varsity Wesmen teams. The Inner City Junior Wesmen teams lead to Collegiate teams which in turn leads to players being placed on the College Wesmen and Varsity Wesmen teams when they become University of Winnipeg students.
The University of Winnipeg has a comprehensive plan when it comes to making a difference in the inner city of Winnipeg.
David Fitzpatrick Dean of Kinesiology
Doran Reid Athletic Director
Grant Richter Director of Program Development and Community Liaison
University of Winnipeg Athletics Community Outreach Report
The University of Winnipeg Athletics Department’s vision for involving the inner city community in its programs and activities continues as a priority. The increase in the quantity of programs operating and the relationships developed has been impressive. All teams and staff have adopted the concept of making this initiative a priority. In the past year, the UW Athletics Department has developed and delivered a summer futsal league, a summer basketball league, and operated 11+ Inner City Junior Wesmen programs in soccer and basketball. We have partnered with inner city schools and organizations to both bring young students onto campus, and arranged for student athletes and staff to operate programming in their schools and facilities. A major challenge moving forward is the need for both increased funding and available space. With more funding and more space we can do so much more. In the near future, expansion into the sports of wrestling, volleyball, and baseball are planned.
The framework of having inner city athletes developing from youth novices, to elite student varsity athletes is in place. All levels from Junior Wesmen to Collegiate, to College to Varsity, are prepared to highlight inner city athletes.
Bringing Community to UW
The UW Summer Basketball League was run every Saturday in July and August in the Duckworth Centre and saw a turnout of 45-60 Inner city youth from ages of 10-17 every week. Former Wesmen, Erfan Nasajpour returned to the campus as director of the league. Current Wesmen athletes connected with the participants by providing coaching, referees, and positive role models.
The UW Futsal League was run in partnership with the Spence Neighbourhood Association and ran twice a week on the UW campus, in July and August. The program provided coaching and technical support for 50-80 inner city youth for both boys and girls ages 10-15. Coaching, referees, and mentorship support was provided by University of Winnipeg’s Soccer players and coaches.
Both of these summer leagues were successful in bringing inner city youth to the University of Winnipeg and connecting today’s youth with UW student athletes, past and present. This year’s plans are to double the participants in the basketball league by operating on both Saturdays and Sundays and to add a complete soccer league.
This spring we will also continue our inner city youth drop in program in Duckworth Centre. For the past 2 years community drop in has been an open gym where local basketball players may come and play pick-up basketball. Players of all ages gather in the Duckworth Centre and get an opportunity to compete against local competition and Wesmen athletes. The program has been very successful with up to 70 players attending per night with all 3 courts full with basketball action.
For the past two years The Duckworth Centre has been home to “Hoops from The Heart”. This is a basketball exhibition game featuring our Wesmen Men’s Varsity Basketball Team and the University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s Basketball Team. Both teams compete against other local Winnipeg basketball players who attend other universities and colleges. The event is held in partnership with the St. Boniface Hospital and raises funds for inner city youth. Last year over 150 inner city youth attended the games and every one of them received a basketball, a t-shirt and a meal. Before and after the games, the inner city youth line up to meet the student athletes and get their t-shirts signed. A similar women’s basketball game is in the planning stages for this upcoming year.
A sampling of other events that have brought the community to our campus are through the partnership between the Athletics and the Kinesiology and Applied Health departments. This includes playing host to visits from local schools such as Hugh John MacDonald, Sister MacNamara, and programs like CUB (College and University Bound) from Seven Oaks School Division. Both of these programs have become semi-annual. Every Fall and Winter, 250+ elementary school-aged students visit the Duckworth Centre where they “Get Active and Get Academic”. Student Athletes and Kinesiology students provide the mentoring. Everyone goes home with a Wesmen gift and family passes to an upcoming Wesmen event.
Visiting the Community
In addition to the year round programming the Wesmen players and coaches have been busy connecting with the community through appearances, exhibitions, clinics and mentoring opportunities. Examples of the activities in which Wesmen athletes have participated include:
· All teams visiting schools for “I love to Read” month (Dufferin, Holy Ghost etc.)
· Tanya McKay is in her 5th year volunteer coaching at Brooklands School
· Women’s Basketball team cooked Christmas dinner for the Brooklands students.
· Alicia Perry and the Women’s Volleyball team put together Christmas hampers
· Women’s Volleyball visit Ronald Mcdonald House to cook dinner for the families staying there and hand out gifts they purchased out of their own pocket.
· All teams provide support and mentorship to Aboriginal children for the CEDA after school program in Winnipeg’s north end at the Northern Centennial Community Centre.
· The Men’s basketball team ran a practice at William Whyte School for grade 7 and 8 students.
· The Wesmen baseball team ran an inner city baseball camp this past summer at central park for 15 inner-city children.
· Soccer teams refereeing and coaching clinics for Gordon Bell High School
· Soccer teams refereeing and coaching clinics for UW Collegiate
· Soccer teams refereeing and coaching clinics for St. Alphonsus School
· Staff and players coaching multiple teams for Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre
· Men’s Basketball clinic and practice at John Henderson School
· Men’s Basketball clinic and practice at Arthur E Wright.
· Soccer Camps for Aboriginal youth flood evacuees.
· All teams participated in Walk for Kids Help phone
· All teams participated in United Way
· Planned Wesmen vs Bisons exhibition in Thompson MB
· Basketball players referee and coach at Rossbrook House Carl Ridd basketball league.
· Soccer and Basketball SPIN program at community centres
· Men’s Basketball clinic and practice at Maples Collegiate
Community Partners
The UW Athletics Department has entered into several partnerships in the community that have helped enhance its ability to deliver on our community mandate. One of these partnerships is with the City of Winnipeg, to have our student athletes and coaches provide technical support for the SPIN (sports programs for inner city neighborhoods) program. The SPIN program offered soccer last summer and basketball during the Fall. Athletes and coaches from our soccer and basketball programs were involved teaching at these community clinics. The program was delivered at schools and community centres through out Winnipeg’s inner city including, Valour Community Club, River Osbourne Community Club, Broadway Neighborhood Centre, Victoria Albert School, Win Gardner Place, Chalmers Community Club, Luxton Community Club, Turtle Island Neighborhood Centre and Shaughnessy Park School. The programs were run one night a week at each location for eight consecutive weeks during Summer and Fall.
The Inner City Junior Wesmen program was founded by Bob Axworthy 5 years ago, as a club basketball team for inner city girls. The program has been a success in developing basketball and leadership skills on and off the court. The program has expanded to include soccer and basketball for girls and boys and will soon be expanding to include wrestling, baseball and volleyball. The program provides an opportunity for inner city youth to compete in organized sports. Many partnerships have been developed with community organizations. Spence Neighborhood Association, NEEDS Centre, IRCOM, Boys and Girls Club, Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, MERC and the City of Winnipeg have all partnered with the University of Winnipeg to help deliver programs.
Due to the rapid expansion of sports programs at the University of Winnipeg, a partnership was formed with Booth College so University of Winnipeg programs could have access to their gym space. We have significant access to Booth College’s facility which is conveniently located right across the street. Inner City Junior Wesmen programs, Men’s and Women’s soccer, College Wesmen Basketball and Wesmen Wrestling all take advantage of the new space.
Inner City Recruits and Developing Elite Athletes
This past year also saw the beginning of The UW Inner City Junior Wesmen All-Stars, a boy’s club basketball team that participates in the “elite” Rising Stars League. The Inner City Wesmen All-stars are a group of 15, 14 year old boys from inner city schools, who were identified and recruited to the UW program for their potential as future student athletes. These boys were recruited from local inner city schools like Sargent Park, General Wolfe, Gordon Bell, Tec Voc and Hugh John MacDonald. The team shares practice space at the Duckworth Centre with university student athletes and have had the benefit of being a part of practices and clinics run by our current Wesmen players. The Rising Stars League has a fall/spring schedule and takes a break during school basketball season. Currently, the Inner-City Wesmen All- Stars have a League record of 8 wins and 0 losses and are looking forward to the start of the second half of their season. A committee of Inner City Wesmen Coaches has been formed to identify and monitor progress of inner city athletes in order to recognize potential and develop talent. The goal is to develop the talent in Winnipeg’s inner city so it can feed the Wesmen program with student athletes. This model can work for all of the various youth sports programs at UW.
In 2010, The University of Winnipeg joined the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Association (MCAC) in the sports of soccer and basketball. In 2011, volleyball was added, providing opportunity for participation and development in College Athletics for hundreds of students at the University of Winnipeg. By adding this level of competition to the Wesmen family, local youth have the opportunity to continue participation in the sports they choose. Our College Wesmen program has been active in recruiting athletes from inner city schools such as Daniel MacIntyre, Gordon Bell, Sisler, Kelvin, Westgate, Tec-Voc, and the University of Winnipeg Collegiate. As a result of adding this last level of competition we believe that all of the rungs of the competition ladder are in place. A young athlete can begin playing a sport as a Junior Wesmen and develop their skills in order to play in the Collegiate program. The next step after the Collegiate would be to have a year or two in the College Wesmen program and finally become a member of one of our Varsity Wesmen teams.
We are currently recruiting UW Collegiate Athletes, Inner-City Junior Wesmen athletes and local high school athletes to be a part of our Wesmen programs. The College Wesmen Men’s basketball team has a roster that includes ten players from a variety of backgrounds including Aboriginal, New Canadian, or from Winnipeg’s inner city schools. They include two student athletes recruited from Crosslake first Nation and Norway House Cree Nation and two former UW Collegiate Model school students. The College Wesmen Women’s basketball team has two Aboriginal student athletes who are also former UW Collegiate Model School students. Efforts continue to recruit athletes from our UW Collegiate, our Inner City Junior Wesmen programs, and our neighboring inner city schools.
Future Plans
Developing successful inner city student athletes is achieved by surrounding them with mentors and role models as they move through the Wesmen sport system. They need to be on campus, have a good experience and both, watch our players in action and “rub shoulders” with them at clinics and practices. Inner city youth currently have access to Wesmen events and significant hours in the current facilities. We plan to even further engage inner city youth with increased quality facilities and with additional programming, activities, and fundraising at Wesmen events.
In 2011, Wesmen Athletics supported 11 teams and provided opportunity for participation to over 150 inner city youth. With the expansion of on-campus facilities the time is now to formalize the partnership between the inner city community and The University of Winnipeg. We expect the number of Junior Wesmen teams to double in 2012. With the launching of The University of Winnipeg Inner City Soccer League this spring, we expect to add 150-200 additional Inner City youth to our growing numbers. This league will be ready to move into our new field house when construction is complete, meeting our goal of providing access to community and bringing inner city youth to our campus.
Future plans also include launching Inner City Junior Wesmen programs for every varsity sport offered at the University of Winnipeg. Wrestling, Baseball and Volleyball will be added to Inner City Junior Wesmen programming. We will also expand our soccer and basketball programs to provide opportunities for all ages to participate. With the addition of these programs and the expansion of the already existing soccer and basketball programs, we anticipate we could grow the number of youth participating in Inner City Junior Wesmen Athletics to over 500 in the next three years.
Wesmen Inner City Sports Programs
University of Winnipeg Wesmen Community News Articles and Features
Nothing But Net For City Kids - (Winnipeg Free Press - July 16, 2012)
Tots To Teens: U of W Sports Camps - (CTV Winnipeg- July 19, 2012)
