OVER THE EDGE
September 26 - October 10, 2007

3

orthern
Sport Centre

Sports Dream Realized

Copy Witter

Epiror in CHIEF

Notice to all you out of shape people on campus: you can’t
use ‘the fitness centre is crowded-and smelly’ as an excuse
to pack on another Freshman, Fifteen in your third year any-
more. No, thanks to a sizable investment by the provincial
government, the City of Prince George arid other donor organ-
izations, UNBC has its very own ed athletic training
facility. And what a facility it i arles Jago Northern
Sports Centre opened this wee fanfare and splen-
dour. I had the distinct pleasur the building with
UNBC Spokesperson Rob:van Al his pre-opening
media briefing. I was eyenin there: Wy of. 101.3
The River’s “Mike and Jespice in the

you see all sorts
alia in front of a big
this week. In an almo
parking lots got paved, s
equipment vanished. Wa
proudly beaming constru
and naturally lit foyer. A
media personnel before
stairs and out onto the hi
soccer regulation size) fi
such that I couldn’t put a
was curious: Looking up
that I would never have a
winter again. :

Gra

TyLerR CLARKE

Propuction Coorp
“It’s a great day fo
B.C.,” premier Gordon
said during the grand ope
Charles Jago Northern S:
September 21.

Upon entering the Ch
Northern Sport Centre for #
time since its completion, -
the grand opening, I paus'
second in a slightly confused haze
to consider whether or not I was in
the right place. My reason for this
is that this is unlike any building
constructed in all of Prince George,
and at a $30.75 million price tag it
certainly seems like something that
belongs in a larger city. This cer-
tainly explains the excitement of

ers that would be fired

As we all walked with Rob towards the gymnasium, he ¢:
plained how three local athletes, cross. country’skier Jackie
Benson, Timberwolves basketball player Jay Gladish and soc-
cer star Lucas Blanche would lead the procession of VIPs and
other athletes from the field into the gym carrying the BC,
University and City flags respectively. Stepping into the blind-
ingly shiny gym, I understood what Rob was talking about
as he described the Olympic-themed grand opening ceremony
UNBC had in store. Bleacher seating for 1000 people looked
out upon a stage being built around the Timberwolves wolf

head logo ia the centre of the pristine floor. Looking. up at .

the raised running track again as Rob talked about the stream-
fired into the crowd a those heights was

MLA Shirley Bond, representing
the strong First Nations presence in
and around the university.

. “This facility was built for the
_children and the athletes and any-

bell

uilding, including;
_-$20.5 million from the provin
government, under Gordon C

-$5.15 million from UNBC
-$500,000 from Canfor
-$50,000 from Remax
-$800,000 and a $2-million no-in

‘back balls fly man!) Then something bad happened. I walked

into the dance/aerobics studio and fell into a trance. You know
that part in the first Harry Potter book where Harry finds the
Mirror of Erised and can’ tear himself oe be it was: like

still construction wa ers there or I’ 4 be a go nt ee 2

Now, the weight room was nowhere near done, so | can’t
comment on it. However, Ian say that the running track. in
occupying its very own floor, is'a wonder to behold. It truly
makes this facility. Covered in that eraser-like red turf, you
can run:from one vista.to another in seconds. Imagine your-

_self looking out over a field of teeny soccer players one min-
ute. and then cing a game:of miniature ne doin layups

“ing a stand-alone community.
-w addition brings to campus...

yor Colin
approach to