New cricket pitches a welcome addition

The Maples

On Aug. 2, delegates from the City of Winnipeg joined the Manitoba Cricket Association (MCA) and several community partners to officially open the La Barrière Park cricket fields.

The new fields were built on City of Winnipeg lands, which the Manitoba Cricket Association leases. The park features three high performance cricket grounds, and is located six kilometres south of the intersection of Waverley and the Perimeter Highway.

Construction of the first cricket pitch in the park begun in 2018. Since then, the site has since grown to feature three cricket pitches, four cricket practice nets, a batting cage, three shade structures and an additional 100 trees were planted.

Since the project began, more than $1.1 million was granted to the Manitoba Cricket Association from a combination of individual ward/councillor funding and City of Winnipeg land dedication reserving funding, the Province of Manitoba (Arts Sports Culture & Community) and Manitoba Cricket Association.

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) contributed $$950,00, Coun. Markus Chambers (St.Norbert-Seine River) $95,000. Additional contributions from Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), Coun. Devi Sharma ( Old Kildonan), Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and former councillors from St. James and Charleswood-Tuxeido -Westwood.

“I am very pleased to support the development of superior fields for our adults and youth. Many juniors and high school students are playing cricket at their schools, and these facilities will certainly grow their skills on full-size, regulation size fields,” Chambers said.

Globally, cricket is one of the fastest growing sports and the second most popular sport behind soccer. According to the International Cricket Council, organized men’s cricket is played in 180 countries and women’s league cricket is played in 61.

Organized cricket was first played in Manitoba since 1870. For over 100 years, the hub of cricket matches were at the pristine Assiniboine Park cricket fields, which is being transformed into a world class cricket facility that will be the fourth such pitch in Canada, where national and international tournaments can be hosted.

In 2015 the number of teams in the Manitoba cricket league was only 16. Now, there are 72 teams in the summer league consisting of five divisions. League matches are played in Winnipeg, Selkirk and in Winkler.

“As Winnipeg goes through immigration, the game of cricket is growing just as rapidly,” Lukes said. “But cricket is more than just a game, in Winnipeg, it’s a powerful bridge that brings diverse communities together through shared passion and friendly rivalry.”

Longtime cricket advocate and president of the Manitoba cricket Association Paramgit Shahi beamed, “With these improved facilities we have seen a significant increase in players engagement and development. We are especially proud to have had two players in Cricket Canada Team, included one who was part of the World Cup cricket team. And, two under-17 players representing Manitoba in the recent national competition in Toronto. Finally, cricket will be introduced in the 2026 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.”

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