By this time next year, Bonnyville's football teams will be able to play and practice later into the evening, under a new set of permanent stadium lights, thanks to the resourcefulness and hard work of the Bonnyville Football Association members and funding from the MD of Bonnyville.
Over the years, coaches and parents and other dedicated members of the Bonnyville Football Association have put in time, money and physical labour to continuously improve Walsh Field, adding new change-rooms, a concession, a running track and other amenities, through the support of strong partnerships with local businesses, municipalities and other organizations.
This time around the MD has stepped up with a commitment to fund the entire lighting project – a total of $112,000.
There is no doubt the members of the football association would have found ways to gather the funds needed for the project, but having a partner in the MD with the ability to fund the project in its entirety in a timely manner makes the work that much easier for the busy football association, that provides the opportunity for dozens of the region's kids to play a team sport, with not a lot of costs attached.
And beyond lightening the workload of the association's members, the MD's funding will bring the community's football field up to higher standards, and open it up to more opportunities, like an increased number of Friday night games under the lights – a favourite among football fans.
Hats off to the local municipality for recognizing the value in funding this project.
