As I listened to Paul Barnetson roll out an impressive set of numbers recently, I couldn’t help but be startled by how many other communities hold Orillia in high regard when it comes to hosting sports events.
Barnetson is the marketing co-ordinator with the parks and recreation department and one of his main duties is to attract sports teams to the city for tournaments winter, spring, summer and fall.
Having enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Paul over the past 10 years, I can tell you frankly, his golf game needs lots of work.
But that’s another column for another day.
However, when it comes to getting hockey and baseball teams into Orillia, he scores an ace nearly every time out.
It’s the domino effect and Paul is a key link in the long line. He markets and promotes, selling teams on the city.
Visitors in turn land on the city’s doorstep and fill up hotels and motels, eating meals in restaurants and filling the cash registers of retailers.
It’s a promotional campaign that never really truly stops, as one season of attractions blends into another. While local residents are working on their suntans in August, Barnetson is already assembling the paperwork for various hockey tournaments.
My jaw dropped when he indicated more than 40 teams will land in Orillia in July and early August for two baseball tournaments.
And he clearly indicated he had to turn away other teams due to a lack of additional diamond time and umpires.
On the June 26-28 weekend, I lost count of the number of teams swinging bats at the Northern Shootout Slo-pitch Tournament, played at two city parks.
Conversations with Paul indicate teams are attracted to the Sunshine City by the beauty of the region. What also helps are the additional attractions (especially Casino Rama) and the fact that tournament fees are reasonable.
As Orillians, I think we forget how lucky we are to live in a community where you have two natural lakes you can still swim in, where the crime rate is low, where most people are friendly and welcoming, and where people do care about their community.
On another topic … The Jan. 14 closure of the Orillia Community Centre directed a huge spotlight on the need to keep upgrading and maintaining the city’s recreational facilities.
Like many, I was pleased to see construction on the West Ridge Sports Complex has cleared its last major hurdle and construction will commence in August.
But as Terry Chatten, a former member of the Recreation Advisory Committee noted recently in an edition of the Orillia Today, the twin ice pad and outdoor fields should not be the final step, but part of a continuing attempt to improve aging recreational facilities in the city.
Orillia is moving forward, but there is so much more recreationally that needs to be accomplished.
Now is not the time to lose the momentum.
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