Fleming College

Partnership with the City of Peterborough

Intramural and competitive athletes at Fleming College will be playing more field sports thanks to a valuable partnership between the City of Peterborough and Fleming College. The City and College will fund the development of two artificial turf sports fields on Fleming property that will include lighting, bleachers with a seating capacity of 1,500, a media box, change/wash rooms, equipment storage, parking and a canteen within the field house.

“It is another example of strong partnership between the College and City,” stated Fleming College President Tony Tilly. “Artificial turf fields significantly impact the community as they attract students and families to the College and the Peterborough area. At the same time, it will dramatically enhance student life on Campus.”

Fleming is providing the property for the two fields to share between the College and local community sports organizations. The location is south of Bowers Park and east of St. Joseph’s at Fleming.

The City of Peterborough is managing the development of the project and further engineering and environmental studies are pending. The new fields will benefit soccer and rugby teams and if it can be done, the fields will accommodate other field sports such as lacrosse and football.

The development cost is estimated at $5.86 million. Fleming College and the City of Peterborough will split the costs evenly less approximately $270,000 in contributions by user groups.

Fleming Student Administrative Council (SAC) is showing huge support for the investment of the new artificial turf fields. SAC recently held their most successful referendum to date and voted 90.7% in favour of extending a current building fee ($42 per semester) for an additional 10-15 years to help fund Fleming’s share of the field costs.

“The fields will boost student life at Fleming and more people will have a reason to stay on Campus,” stated SAC President Cameron Bradley. “It will lead to a stronger connection between College students that will result in more students participating and spectating at varsity and intramural sports, recreational events and educational activities.”

Currently, student spectator turnout to sporting events is poor and intramural sports are declining due to the cost and time of travel to Trent University or East City fields by either a bus transfer, taxi ride or driving. It has been a motivating factor in students looking for opportunities to build fields at Fleming.

The two artificial turf fields will be a welcome addition to the College when construction is complete in the Fall of 2013.

Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Business and Technology, Continuing Education and Skilled Trades, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Visual Arts, Education, Health and Wellness, and Law, Justice and Community Services. Fleming College has 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 60,000 alumni.

– 30 –

For more information:        
Paula Walton, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or paulaw@flemingc.on.ca