NOHFC - Success Stories
World Coming to Thunder Bay Field of Dreams
From left: Larry Hebert, President, TBIBA; Reg Galbraith, President, TBBA and Don Vezina, Parks Services Coordinator for the City of Thunder Bay
They built it, and they are coming, because the love of baseball knows no borders. From Latin America to southern Asia, baseball remains a hugely popular sport around the world.
The Growth of Baseball in Thunder Bay
In Thunder Bay, competitive baseball has been played for decades. While many may assume this Northern Ontario city must surely be made up exclusively of hockey enthusiasts, the Lakehead has had its own baseball league dating back to the 1920s - the Thunder Bay Baseball Association (TBBA). Reg Galbraith, current President of the TBBA and facilities director for the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA), has been a fixture in the city’s baseball community ever since he began coaching one of its little league teams over 25 years ago.
During Mr. Galbraith’s tenure, the TBBA has steadily grown and diversified, thanks to a combination of community participation and financial support from various sources, including the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s (NOHFC) Infrastructure and Community Development Program. In 2005, the NOHFC approved funding of $50,000 to upgrade Baseball Central, the TBBA’s home park. The project, which involved upgrading the existing diamond and constructing a second one, required extensive site preparation that included installation of bleachers, scoreboards, dugouts, and lighting rigs.
“Look at what this does for us locally; our players now have a second (diamond) to practice on, to play more games on. Our program now has the ability to expand, thanks to the funding we’ve received. You can only play so many baseball games in a week on one field, so the second one ups the number of games, and ups the number of participants,” says Mr. Galbraith.
“We have two lawyers in our league, three accountants, many people who are self-employed, lots of trades people, lots of collegiate players who come back for the summer…this is a real benefit of what we’ve done with the funding. We’ve created a good program that people want to participate in, and that’s one of the things that keeps (people) in the North.”
At a Glance:
WHERE
Thunder Bay, Ontario
WHO
Reg Galbraith and the Thunder Bay Baseball Association
HOW NOHFC HELPED
Funding supported upgrades to Baseball Central fostering the growth of Thunder Bay’s baseball community and providing the infrastructure required to host an international tournament.
Taking the Game to an International Level
Scheduled to open next spring, the new diamond has already raised the city’s profile globally. As a result of the impressive new infrastructure and persistent campaigning, Thunder Bay has been chosen to host the 2010 Under-19 World Junior Baseball Championships. The prestigious tournament involves teams from all around the world, and in the past has featured several players who have gone on to play in the major leagues - including Canadian great Larry Walker.
A tournament of this magnitude also means a new surge of economic possibilities for the city. As Mr. Galbraith observes:
“Because of what (TBIBA) has accomplished, we’ve had a lot of businesses come forward and ask: ‘How can we help you?
“When you get something of this magnitude in the city, it’s just going to snowball. As it gets closer, we’re going to hear more, and there’s probably going to be hundreds of stories as to how it’s affected people around here. From hotels and restaurants, to bars, rental companies, and taxi companies…everyone’s going to benefit over the next little while.”
“Look at what this does for us locally; our players now have a second [diamond] to practice on, to play more games on. Our program now has the ability to expand, thanks to the funding we’ve received"
Those spin-off benefits are one reason the NOHFC invests in projects such as this one. Strong infrastructure spawns a stronger community which in turn spawns greater prosperity. It’s the economic version of a triple play. And more often than not, that play is triggered by the people who live in those communities. For people like Reg Galbraith, that investment has put a whole lot of new opportunities in the on-deck circle.
“There are a lot of things that can be done in the North. We’re dead-centre in the middle of Canada. I encourage anyone who wants to do something on a national or international level to step up to the plate and go for it.”
- Learn how the NOHFC can help you: Infrastructure and Community Development Program
