WHERE ARE WE ?

A Saanich Council motion from Councillor Plant and Westhaver has brought Saanich Municipality into our field project. We are looking forward to working with Saanich to explore what a partnership might look like.   

With a wealth of experience in our community, Brad Norris-Jones (Spec Grad) has joined our project. Brad has worked with the HarbourCats, Pacific FC & currently is working with Victoria Royals Hockey. 

Thanks to Bobby Sousa, we have secured excavation and concrete for the project at NO cost.  This will save us close to $700,000.  We now need around a 1/3rd of the $2.2million to bring this transformational project to fruition. 

Through working with SD61 Facilities & Doug Wournell.  We have some detailed field plans produced. See here for the plans

With significant experience in sports architecture, Doug Wournell has been added to our project. With Doug assisting the project there will be tremendous design & project advancement. 

With Global Philanthropic (GP) & our Spectrum Turf Committee an in-depth fundraising package (print & video) is being developed that will be sent out to campaign champions and potential donors to bridge the nearly 50% increase in turf cost associated with covid-related inflation. 

Our project has aligned with Global Philanthropic (GP) & Vice Chair Richard Walker.  Richard has helped raise more than $400 million in his professional fundraising career. Working directly with the Victoria Spartans and Spectrum, Richard has been tasked with raising $2 million to fund the building and turf. With GP & Richard aboard, we feel we are in the final stretches of the project while creating a strategic plan to bridge covid related-inflation increases. 

On 09/01/2022 we met with Chief Rob & Councilor Karen of the Esquimalt & Songhees Nations respectively. We shared the project with the nation officials.  We listened and answered questions about the community project and our work to date on the project and in the community.  We expressed a sincere desire to further our relationship towards a shared turf with our indigenous neighbours. This was an extremely positive meeting with all parties excited about the project and the shared path together.

As a Lower Island Soccer Association member club, Westcastle are the new kids on the block of the Victoria soccer scene. Looking for a permanent home, Westcastle see the Spectrum turf project as an ideal location in the middle of 5 municipalities to lay down their roots. 

On 07/15/2022 we had a 2.5 hour meeting with SD61's Secretary Treasurer and the VISL towards finalizing the JUA. The SD61 Board has directed the Secretary Treasurer to present a potential finalized JUA for the Sept 2022 Board Meeting.

This is a major step towards the turf project as it defines the terms of the partnership and agreement. 

Our Spectrum Turf Committee are working diligently over the summer months on four Action Item Areas.  They are: 

• Indigenous Engagement - We hope to meet with the Songhees & Esquimalt Nations
• Public Consultation - Is being planned for Sept 14th, 2022
• Design - We need an accurate measure of quantities for the project 
• Fundraising & In-Kind Donations - We are formulating a plan while consulting with professionals in this area

Our group has a final design for the field which was recently approved by SD61 Facilities. This is the field design here (CLICK LINK)