Saskatoon’s Gordie Howe Sports Complex has grown to become one of the premiere multi-sports centres in Canada — but work on the complex is still underway.
The Friends of the Bowl Foundation, which raises funds to support the centre, is tracking down dollars to support a $6.5-million fourth phase of development. This will allow the complex to build a new turf field, upgrade lighting and purchase state-of-the-art timing equipment for track and speedskating events among other endeavours.
“In today’s environment, sport is changing all the time and the bar is being raised all the time,” says Friends of the Bowl Foundation chair Bryan Kosteroski. “We can’t sit still. The Gordie Howe Sports Complex is a gem in Canada, and we want to keep it that way.”
That’s why events like Brainsport’s Donut Dash are so important. The five-kilometre race, which takes place June 19, has been an annual fundraiser for the Gordie Howe Sports Complex since 2019.
“We are so lucky to have the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon,” says Brainsport owner Brian Michasiw. “My family is involved with speed skating and track and field so it was any easy decision to financially support the foundation. This facility will help lay the groundwork to help generations of people live a healthy active lifestyle.”
Kosteroski says that support is more important now than ever before. Not only did the pandemic hurt the Friends of the Bowl’s fundraising efforts over the past two years, but the centre is busier than it’s ever been.
Since Saskatchewan eased pandemic restrictions, there’s been “a major increase” in families flocking to the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, Kosteroski says.
“Night after night, we’ve noticed a lot more people at the complex. A lot of people want to get back to the norm, they want to be outside, they want to watch their grandkids or their kids competing or training,” Kosteroski says.
Recently, the complex hosted outdoor school track meets for the first time since 2019, which brought thousands of young people and their families to the centre.
The Donut Dash, which starts and ends at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, invites participants to chase a speedy local athlete dressed in an oversized donut suit. At the inaugural event in 2019 — the only time participants gathered in-person — the donut comfortably won the race despite some visibility problems.
This year’s route will highlight Holiday Park and the newly rebuilt Meewasin Trail South. And, of course, everyone gets donuts at the finish.
For more information and to register, go online. For more on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, visit its website.
