If the local motorcycle enthusiasts had a great weekend, local football fans held a major blowout with three days of football celebrations. The weekend included a cheerleading camp, the Jordan Matechuk Pro Football camp, a picnic in the Western Financial Services Park offering local fans a barbecue, entertainment and an opportunity to meet and mix with CFL football players from Regina, Winnipeg and Hamilton. The weekend concluded with the annual Football Night in Saskatchewan banquet at St. Mary's Cultural Centre.
Yorkton Minor Football (YMF) president Roby Sharpe says the weekend was a great success again this year. Local participation during the weekend and the sold out Football Night in Saskatchewan event shows the great support football has in Yorkton, he suggests. "The bottom line is the people in our town care about our youth and about making programs work. The support for this event is overwhelming," he declares.
Sharpe labels YRHS alumnus, Jordan Matechuk, currently playing for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, as an unbelievable ambassador for the sport of football and for Yorkton. After making it into the CFL, Matechuk returns to Yorkton every year, bringing his teammates with him to run a football camp for local youth.
Sharpe also acknowledges the contribution of former Saskatchewan Roughrider cheerleader Brittany Thies who returns every year to conduct a cheerleading camp for local kids to give back to her community.
Some of the VIPs attending the Football Night in Saskatchewan weekend included Rider starting fullback Wes Cates, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Willard Reaves, Rider offensive lineman Gene Makowsky, special teams player Jordan Matechuk and Eddie Steele both from the Hamilton Tigers Cats.
Proceeds from the weekend go to YMF for equipment and programs. As well, it may be a minor point in some circles but a major sticking point in others, Kinsmen Century Field has no public washroom facilities. YMF which recognizes the importance of such facilities is in the process of working with Good Spirit School Division to develop plans to construct washrooms at the field, Sharpe reports. "It's something that's long overdue," he suggests.
He recognizes YMF will need to raise substantial funds for the proposed project, but says, "It all starts with the first step.
