Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Dozens rally for playing field

Gordon Bell school seeking vacant lot

By: Joe Paraskevas

Posted: 01/24/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Madilyn Seneual (left) and Wenlan Nyenon join rally. (MARK REIMER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Friday was a lousy day for a game of football, but that didn't stop some friends of Gordon Bell High School from trying for a game-winning drive.

Dozens of students, teachers, alumni and other supporters shrugged off the effects of Friday's -36 wind chill and waved placards at passing motorists on Portage Avenue to rally support for a playing field in a vacant lot west of the inner-city school.

"Gimme a G!" students yelled on the sidewalk, followed by the letters "R-E-E-N" and then the word "space." "What do we want? Green space!"

Many cars honked to signal approval and supporters young and old on hand for the rally underlined the importance of a new grass field to the concrete-bound school that opened at its current location 49 years ago.

"It's time for some catch-up. We've put up with very, very little for so long," said Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin, a former Gordon Bell parent. "This is our one and only shot at a green field."

The lot, formerly home to the Midway Chrysler dealership, is slated to become the site for a new Canada Post building.

A Canada Post spokeswoman said construction would begin "by late summer or early fall" on the hectare-size, triangular patch of land at Portage and Broadway.

But Canada Post, which bought the land last year, would consider a plan that would see the Winnipeg School Division buy the property and then offer another site to the federal Crown corporation, the spokeswoman said.

"The point we're trying to make here is the school division would have to be involved," said Kathi Neal.

But John Orlikow, chairman of the school division's board of trustees, said his organization could do little to influence the outcome of the Gordon Bell effort.

"We'll support the idea," Orlikow said. "(But) we're not authorized to buy land. They talk about a land swap, but what do you swap -- a school? All we can do is support the project (to plant a field)."

Gordon Bell, named after a former head of the province's health department, was first opened in 1926 at Maryland Street and Wolseley Avenue. It moved to its current location near Maryland and Portage in 1960.

The need to practise and play home games at other sites in Winnipeg has deterred some students from signing up for sports and occasionally forced Gordon Bell not to field a team.

Two Canada Post employees were among the crowd at the rally.

"Anything for the kids," said Harold Martinos, a letter carrier who is also vice-president of the nearby West Alexander Residents Association. "Gordon Bell has been here for a lot of years. They need this. I'd like to see something here that's fair and equitable for both (sides)."

joe.paraskevas@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 24, 2009 B1

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.