The sports teams at Rimbey Junior/Senior High School have lots of heart, hustle and a downright desire to win.
This winning spirit has shown up consistently in gold medal wins and provincial and league championships.
The teams continue to place more often than not on the winning side of the scoreboard despite the fact there are no track and field facilities at the school and the rugby and football teams practice and play on the elementary school playground grounds.
Bill Argent is a parent with two children attending the school. His youngest son, Wyatt, is in Grade 8 and is on the running team. Argent would not only like his son to have a better place to train and compete, he would like other students to enjoy the same privilege. He would also like the soccer and football teams to have a chance to play on a real athletic park.
To make this vision become a reality, Argent, who is the athletic field project fundraising chairman, has worked with a committee to create awareness of the situation and raise funds for the project. Presently, they have plans in place which include a multi-use athletic park that will include a 400 m shale track, surrounding a rugby/football field. The cost of such a park is about $294,000.
Argent sees the project as a good one, not only for the school, but for the town.
“We feel that this facility will not only benefit the school, but the town of Rimbey as a whole, as the running track will be open to the public during non school and event hours and the facility has the potential to attract larger events such as provincial tournaments.”
In addition to the track and fields, a building to be used for storage of sports equipment and as a change facility for sports teams is planned.
The cost of this facility has been estimated at $35,279.85.
Argent said Rimbey Junior/Senior High School’s administration is behind the project as is Wolf Creek Public Schools.
Rimbey’s previous mayor Sheldon Ibbotson and his council were supportive of the project, Argent said, noting the town provided the services of Tagish Engineering to draw up plans for the proposed sports complex.
Argent will attend a Ponoka County meeting in February to bring awareness to the county about the project and he is hopeful they will provide financial support.
Anyone who would like to contribute financially to this project may contact Bill Argent at 403-704-5991 or email him at 001wildhorses@gmail.com or Tim Lekas, principal of Rimbey Jr/Sr High School at tlekas@wolfcreek.ca
Sports who wish to help with the building will be recognized with signage on or close to the building and those who sponsor the sports field or the project in general will have signage on the field acknowledging their contribution.
The field would be named after any sponsor who agreed to commit 50 per cent or more of the total cost of the project.
“I would like to acknowledge the town of Rimbey for providing the funding for the cost of the engineering up to this point,” said Argent. “Please know that any contribution, including manpower or equipment, as well as cash donations will be greatly appreciated.”