Photo from the GPCA Facebook page

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City working with local cricket association for facilities

Nov 22, 2022 | 6:00 AM

The Grande Prairie Cricket Association is hoping to work with the City to have improved facilities for the sport in Grande Prairie.

Council voted against referring a $35,000 funding request from the association to last week’s budget talks but did pass a motion to have city staff work with the association on plans, including a potential location, and to report back to the committee level.

Association president Vijay Parmar says the group has 75 members and five teams.

He says job opportunities are one reason for the growth of the sport.

“Now (that) cricket is there, this is an attraction. A lot of people have moved in here and they love playing cricket.”

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“I still feel there are a lot more growth opportunities here. We can still do (a) lot better job.”

Parmar adds cricket was Canada’s first national sport.

“People from Commonwealth countries, they love playing cricket and cricket (is) the second-most popular sport after soccer in the world.”

“Billions of people follow (cricket). They love to play cricket. If there (is) infrastructure, if there’s a place to play, people will join.”

The association currently plays its games in Northridge Park area in the Royal Oaks neighbourhood.

Parmar says they host tournaments with teams from Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Fort McMurray, and Calgary.

He adds they also have winter cricket at the Leisure Centre.

“So that’s something that is a question mark this winter because we heard that the City is going to tear it down.”

“The Leisure Centre (is) where (we played) for nine years so we’ll have to look for a new facility if there are any.”

Parmar says any indoor facility would have to have netting as the ball can damage the building.

The plans for the $35,000 were to have a fence between the field and a playground and to install some bleachers at the Northridge Park location.