these courts need to be saved because of the importance they hold for the community
M
mike russell
12 years ago
i have never played these courts, but i want to. don't kill the dream by tearing them down!!
M
Madison Myrfield
12 years ago
I would be sad to see these go just before I move here!
P
Paul Adamiak
12 years ago
The case for removing these courts seems really weak and will actually negatively impact the students and members of the facility.
K
Kiefer Waite
12 years ago
Squash
C
Christine Yablonka
12 years ago
If these courts disappear it will be a tragic loss to the community!!
H
Heather Looy
12 years ago
When I emailed the Macewan Board of Governors and President, the president replied to inform me that the "utilization rate" of the courts was only 55%. First, that's hard to believe, since it's nearly impossible to book a court, the demand is so high. But even if it's true, what a strange measure. Court 4 was taken away from us to store spin bikes, and it's used only twice or three times a day! That's a way lower utilization rate, yet this is what they want to do with all the courts. Besides, a measure like this misses so many important dimensions and value; it's a reductive and distorting way to talk about what squash brings to the community--both within Macewan and in the broader community. Once they lose their squash courts, there will be NO courts available to ordinary people in the downtown area.
Many great letters/emails have been written; one common theme is that squash is a sport for life; it's not one of those "fitness fads" and it's not just exercise for the sake of getting in shape. It's an interesting and sociable game that is much more sustainable than exercise classes and machines. Plus such classes and machines can go into any kind of space; it would not be that hard nor that expensive to create such space. Surely not even that much more than the cost of "repurposing" the squash courts, which were expensive to build originally.
Finally, Macewan has worked really hard to promote its squash facilities, and just when the squash culture is up and humming, with lots of new players, more teams than ever before, courts booked to the max, they pull out the rug? For what? The "prestige" of space for their elite athletes, the money gained from "corporate clients" (who, it would seem to me would actually like squash!), and more exercise space for their increasing student body? And yet, the fitness centre is only really busy in September and January; the pressure drops greatly when the semester gets busy...plus lots of the students LOVE squash o
P
pat murphy
12 years ago
It would be a huge loss
M
Michael Burgess
12 years ago
These are some of the best courts in the city. I love playing here and do so often. As a GMCC alumni I'm disappointed with this decision. Please try and keep them open. Thank you.
J
Jim Soneff
12 years ago
Squash is one of the best individual fitness sports that I have ever participated in. Is this in the best interest of physical fitness?
J
John Yarmuch
12 years ago
Please don't take Squash away from us. They are very important to a lot of us for exercise and fun.
S
Shawn moser
12 years ago
Save the courts
A
Alan Ditschun
12 years ago
Best all-round sport and we need our educational facilities to have courts to introduce sport to our young people.
A
Andrew Fisher
12 years ago
From UofC to Harvard, to Cambridge, all distinguished post-secondary institutions have squash courts & clubs. MacEwan just underwent a $1.6 million re-brand to University and it decides to take the short-sighted approach of closing four squash courts. Both students, alumni, and community members use these courts and the reasons being presented for their closure are ill-thought out. It's not too late to make it right. Keep the courts open.
dont take the squash courts
these courts need to be saved because of the importance they hold for the community
i have never played these courts, but i want to. don't kill the dream by tearing them down!!
I would be sad to see these go just before I move here!
The case for removing these courts seems really weak and will actually negatively impact the students and members of the facility.
Squash
If these courts disappear it will be a tragic loss to the community!!
When I emailed the Macewan Board of Governors and President, the president replied to inform me that the "utilization rate" of the courts was only 55%. First, that's hard to believe, since it's nearly impossible to book a court, the demand is so high. But even if it's true, what a strange measure. Court 4 was taken away from us to store spin bikes, and it's used only twice or three times a day! That's a way lower utilization rate, yet this is what they want to do with all the courts. Besides, a measure like this misses so many important dimensions and value; it's a reductive and distorting way to talk about what squash brings to the community--both within Macewan and in the broader community. Once they lose their squash courts, there will be NO courts available to ordinary people in the downtown area. Many great letters/emails have been written; one common theme is that squash is a sport for life; it's not one of those "fitness fads" and it's not just exercise for the sake of getting in shape. It's an interesting and sociable game that is much more sustainable than exercise classes and machines. Plus such classes and machines can go into any kind of space; it would not be that hard nor that expensive to create such space. Surely not even that much more than the cost of "repurposing" the squash courts, which were expensive to build originally. Finally, Macewan has worked really hard to promote its squash facilities, and just when the squash culture is up and humming, with lots of new players, more teams than ever before, courts booked to the max, they pull out the rug? For what? The "prestige" of space for their elite athletes, the money gained from "corporate clients" (who, it would seem to me would actually like squash!), and more exercise space for their increasing student body? And yet, the fitness centre is only really busy in September and January; the pressure drops greatly when the semester gets busy...plus lots of the students LOVE squash o
It would be a huge loss
These are some of the best courts in the city. I love playing here and do so often. As a GMCC alumni I'm disappointed with this decision. Please try and keep them open. Thank you.
Squash is one of the best individual fitness sports that I have ever participated in. Is this in the best interest of physical fitness?
Please don't take Squash away from us. They are very important to a lot of us for exercise and fun.
Save the courts
Best all-round sport and we need our educational facilities to have courts to introduce sport to our young people.
From UofC to Harvard, to Cambridge, all distinguished post-secondary institutions have squash courts & clubs. MacEwan just underwent a $1.6 million re-brand to University and it decides to take the short-sighted approach of closing four squash courts. Both students, alumni, and community members use these courts and the reasons being presented for their closure are ill-thought out. It's not too late to make it right. Keep the courts open.