Crusaders Receives $150,000 Trillium Grant for Field Equipment
Crusaders Rugby Club has been awarded a $150,000 Capital grant by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to purchase field maintenance equipment. The club had identified the need to invest more in the club playing surfaces and in 2022 embarked upon a program to significantly improve the standard of the fields.
“Investing time and money in our fields has been well worth it. They’re in much better shape, much safer as playing surfaces and the equipment we’ve been able to purchase with the Trillium grant has been instrumental in helping us improve the surfaces”, said Phil Cartwright, Director of Facilities. The club has purchased a range of equipment including a new Ventrac diesel tractor with mower, power rake, fertilizer, top loader and aeravator/seeder attachments, as well as a new diesel Toro Workman UTV with roller, top dresser, sprayer and field groomer. “With this equipment, we can implement a top notch field maintenance program and provide our members with excellent quality, and far safer, fields.”
“Improving our facilities has been a key priority,” said Cartwright. “The club has consulted grounds management experts to help us construct a year-round field maintenance program, including aerating, fertilizing, seeding and improved watering – the fields have never looked better. As only the main pitch receives irrigation – and it’s trucked-in water mostly – the other fields need a lot more care to last through the season. This equipment and the more formal field maintenance program has allowed us to ensure the fields are playable for longer – and a good deal more safe.”
“We are enormously grateful for the support of Stephen Crawford, our MPP and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.” said Chris Tudor Price, President. “It would frankly be impossible for the club to buy this kind of equipment without OTF’s support. Thanks also to the board of directors who have worked hard to ensure the club is eligible for this kind of support and funding – it’s been a 4 year project and a massive team effort to put us in this position.”
The club invested significantly in refitting the main field irrigation system in 2023 and intends to connect to municipal water services in 2024 that will allow it to provide irrigation to all the fields and further improve the playing surfaces.
