PDHS launches $2 million campaign to raise funds for new track and field Students serve up pasta dinner during first public fundraiser

By George Le Gresley

When school is out and you look at an empty sports field, you’ll hear the wind and birds chirping and eerily quiet. But between September and June there will be plenty of memories of just hanging out on the hill eating lunch, laughing, having a last-minute review of their notes before a test, experiencing a team win and just having fun.

On Thursday night, Paris District High School hosted a pasta dinner fundraiser in support of a new multimillion-dollar project to renovate and upgrade the sports field behind the Grand River Street North school. It’s in rough shape and is long overdue for an upgrade to meet the track and field standards of today’s youth. The estimated cost of the project is pegged at $3,000,000 and students and staff hope to fundraiser $2 million by June 2025 This fundraise was just the first of many that will take place in the next 12 months

Jerry Falkiner, who was with his parents at Thursday night’s lasagna fundraiser, said it was rugby practice and games, coming home from a muddy field and “bringing a bit of the field home,” that made him realize the renovation is urgent. For Optimist members Lesley Brown and Marilyn McCullough, it’s about community pride for Paris and the communities that Paris High serve The Optimists have a unique connection with PDHS - members are proud of the club’s role in bringing football back to Paris over 10 years ago.

The Optimists continue to provide needed support of the football team/program.

As far as the students are concerned, a new field will be a safer environment for sports.According to Grade 10 students Meghan Balock andAurora Saulner, a brand new field will come with less holes and fewer chances to twist one’s ankles on.

Around 130 tickets were sold for PDHS’ Pasta Dinner fundraiser in support of a new track and field behind the school.

Dexter Quesnel and Eoin Wright feel a new facility will be great for school spirit and pride, great for athletics and more importantly a huge benefit for the community.

Monique Francis, originally from Brampton and a new resident to Paris, follows her Grade 11 daughter’s rugby games. She loves the atmosphere of town and the school and is active with the PDHS Parent Council, but she has concerns about rugby in spite of her daughter’s newfound love of the game. A safer, state-of-the-art field will help ease some of her safety concerns.

There is no doubt that raising $2 million dollars is a big feat. Principal Kristy Johnson knows this and states the lasagna dinner fundraiser, where over 130 tickets were sold, is just the beginning. Students will be canvassing local businesses in the near future for contributions and a formal fundraising committee will target businesses who can make those larger donations Miles Flowers in Burford is currently taking Mother’s Day orders with proceeds going to the track, all orders (as a reminder) are due by May 1st .

“The development of a new track would represent a remarkable opportunity to enhance the prominence of PDHS,” said Johnson ahead of Thursday’s fundraiser. “The goal is to establish the school as a community hub, and the construction of a modern facility would benefit not just PDHS, but all the elementary students from Paris, Burford, St George and Glen Morris that also use the space for their track activities. It will provide a place where families can gather to support their athletes, where neighbours can come together to enjoy sporting events and where individuals of all ages can stay healthy and active,” she noted

The current format of the track has only four lanes. In recent years, PDHS has received an increase in requests from elementary schools to use the track. The current restriction of having only four lanes, none of which are lined, also limits the range of events that can take place, often leading to slower paced activities.

The current dirt/stone track is not an ideal surface for a secondary school track. It requires constant maintenance, which becomes especially challenging after rainfall when footprints tend to solidify into the surface rendering the track unusable and unsafe. With the growing community, an expanding number of community members are utilizing the track for walking. In addition to the track, the current state of jumping pits, runways, and throwing space (shot put, discus) are in poor shape, and need to be addressed

Proposed plans for the new track would include 6 synthetic lanes to conform to International Amateur Athletic Federation and Ontario Federation of School Athletic

Association dimensions, the grass field would be converted into artificial turf, lining would be in place for CFL football, full sized soccer, field hockey and cross field soccer, there would be a new high jump apron, long and triple jump facility, a new scoreboard, school logos in the end zones and centre field and LED lighting for the field and spectator seating for up to 200 people.

Thursday’s fundraiser was led by Ryan Rockefeller, who will be opening the High School’s new hospitality program next year. He worked with the students to prepare the dinner These courses will no doubt help prepare to enter a thriving hospitality industry or pursue post-secondary education.

As far as the review of the lasagna, well I can never say no to lasagna, a bit of salad and garlic bread and yes it was very good!

Lauren Farr organized staff and students to gather donations for the Silent Auction held during the dinner Johnson sent a big thank-you to staff, parents and students who volunteered to make it a successful event

It’s safe to say everyone agrees that this project is about community, pride and a facility that will be great for the area If you’re interested in making a contribution that will last for decades, contact the school at 519-442-4477