Sport, Recreation & Wellness for All Campaign Exceeds $4 Million Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University celebrates success of campaign to support new Athletics Centre with Justin Chiu Stadium dedication event honouring international alumnus and major campaign donor

Thursday, May 12, 2011, Peterborough

Trent University’s Sport, Recreation & Wellness for All Campaign to support the renewal and expansion of athletics and recreation facilities at Trent has raised more than $4.056 million, exceeding the $4 million goal set for the campaign when it was launched in October 2009.

“The new Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre is a one-of-a-kind fitness facility that enhances and benefits not only our University but also the entire Peterborough community,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor at Trent. “The success of our fundraising campaign showcases the important role Trent’s athletics facilities have to play for our current and future students, our alumni and all members of the Trent and local communities. On behalf of the University, thank you to all of our donors and volunteers who helped make the TCSRC a reality.”

To celebrate the official conclusion of the successful campaign and to honour international alumnus Justin Chiu ‘76, who donated $1 million to support the new Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre (TCSRC), the University hosted a special Justin Chiu Stadium Dedication event on May 12. The public event featured live music by The Resolutionaries Marimba Band and the Peterborough Children’s Chorus as well as exhibition games with Peterborough Minor Lacrosse and Peterborough City Soccer and a grand finale fireworks display.

Mr. Chiu, a world-renowned property developer who travelled from his native Hong Kong with his wife Rita to be at the event, was joined by several other special guests and dignitaries at the event, including Trent President Dr. Steven Franklin, Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett, Board chair David Morton and fellow alumnus, Olympic gold medal rower and honorary campaign chair Rob Marland. Commenting on his decision to donate to the athletics campaign, Mr. Chiu, who graduated from Trent in 1978 with a joint degree in Sociology and Economics, said: “This sport and recreation centre is an exciting addition to the community and will help build even stronger ties between the University and the surrounding region. It will also bring further international profile to Trent as more and more national and international events are drawn to the modern, state-of-the-art facilities.”

In addition to Mr. Chiu’s $1 million gift to name the stadium, many other milestones and highlights have been celebrated since the Sport, Recreation & Wellness for All Campaign was officially launched in October 2009, including:

• The City of Peterborough’s $1 million investment to support the TCSRC as part of its Vision 2010: A Strategic Plan for Recreation, Parks and Culture, which called for the need for a recreation centre to serve the needs of the north end of the City and surrounding townships.
• Outstanding alumni support which resulted in over $1.4 million raised for the campaign and includes gifts from Justin Chiu, alumnus Greg Piasetzki '72 and his wife, Laura Woods, among others.
• $250,000 raised to name the state-of-the-art Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Centre in the TCSRC in honour of the former Olympian and one of Canada’s most heralded female coaches for her outstanding contribution, passion and commitment to rowing at Trent and within the Peterborough community.
• A $200,000 gift from honorary Board member David Moore and his wife, Joan, which was celebrated with the official naming of the Moore Family Cardio Loft in their honour.
• $300,000 raised for new Athletic Financial Awards to attract top student-athletes to Trent.  These funds will be matched by the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) program which matches endowed donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis to provide bursaries and awards to Ontario students.
• Showing of strong Board support for the campaign with a lead gift of $100,000 from chair of the Board David Morton and his wife Pat. A 2km Trent Canal Nature Area trail will be named The Morton Family Trail in their honour.
• The Co-Chairs Mezzanine in the Athletics Centre was named in honour of Peter Adams and Gary Wolff for their volunteer leadership of the Sport, Recreation & Wellness for All Campaign.

Outside of the campaign, the contribution of past, present and future Trent students is also a significant piece of support for the TCSRC. In October 2004 students voted to establish a new $50 annual fee ($300,000 per year) in support of capital improvements to the athletics and recreation facilities at the University. Over the past six years, full-time undergraduate students have contributed more than $1.8 million to the new TCSRC.

About the Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre

 As the only fitness and recreation facility in the growing north end of the City of Peterborough, the Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre provides vital wellness services to all residents. Unique and innovative features of the new Athletics Centre, which opened in September 2010, include: North America’s most advanced indoor combination rowing/paddling tank, an indoor climbing wall, 12,000 sq. ft. cardio loft and weight room, warm therapy pool, expanded therapy clinic, and a complete makeover of the pool. The new Athletics Centre is complemented by outstanding outdoor facilities, including the Justin Chiu Stadium which features an artificial grass playing field, 405-metre track and stadium seating for 1,000 people. Community memberships at the TCSRC are available. Visit www.trentu.ca/athletics for details.

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For more information, please contact:
Lee Hays, Assistant Campaign Manager, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x7955