Canada’s only major league baseball team is extending a helping hand to Whitecourt Minor Baseball.
In April 2022, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Whitecourt Minor Baseball is one of the recipients of their Field of Dreams grant. Through their Jays Cares Foundation, the Blue Jays gave Whitecourt Minor Ball $70,000 for improvements to their ball diamonds.
On July 12, representatives of the Jays Care Foundation were in Whitecourt for a cheque presentation ceremony.
Whitecourt Minor Ball president Randy Lynch was there to accept the cheque, and revealed that a lot of hard work went into getting the grant.
“We are really excited for the community, and I do want to thank the Town and all of our board of directors who worked really hard on this grant,” shared Lynch. “A lot of volunteer hours go into our Whitecourt minor baseball program, so thank you to all the board members, Town, and all the parents who do help out and make Whitecourt Minor Ball what it is.”
Also at the ceremony was Whitecourt mayor Tom Pickard. When the grant was first announced in April, Pickard knew the money would be put to good use.
“As a former coach here in Whitecourt, I know that the upgrades to our field are needed, and will be used extensively by our local children and youth,” said Pickard.
Some of the improvements Whitecourt Minor Ball will be doing to the ball diamonds are replacing the grass infield with shale, adding new fencing, and making the facilities handicapped accessible.
Lynch hopes the construction will be done by the fall.
