THUNDER BAY - The sports community now has a day to congregate at the Thunder Bay Sports Summit.
The first ever summit was held at the West Thunder Community Centre on Saturday, and saw over 80 community sport leaders on hand to spread ideas and information among groups.
“We’re looking for ways to collaborate, and learn from each other,” chair of sport summit committee Paul Burke said.
Representation from Lakehead University athletics, the Thunder Bay Kings, and the Aboriginal Sports and Wellness Council participated among others.
The City of Thunder Bay’s recreational facility master plan suggested an annual roundtable of sports organizations in the city.
These organizations discussed a variety of topics ranging from recruitment and coaching to concussions and nutrition.
Keynote speaker Susan Auch, a three-time Olympic medalist who now works as the chief executive officer of Speed Skating Canada, said Thunder Bay’s sports culture is something to admire.
“It’s not often I talk to the leaders in sport,” said Auch, who flew in from Winnipeg early Saturday. “I think the leaders impact children a lot here and that’s important.”
Burke says the level of volunteer work that goes into maintaining a sports culture is paramount.
“The volunteers are the backbone of it,” Burke said. “All of these different organizations that put on these programs… those are volunteers and today we’re trying to give them some different tools.”
