Wallaceburg Lacrosse Sees Potential For Growth at New Canlan Facility

If the new Canlan Multi-Sport facility is approved and built in Chatham, it won’t simply be used by Chatham organizations, as at least one Wallaceburg group, Wallaceburg Lacrosse, is excited by the possibilities this new facility presents.

Earlier this month, Canlan Ice Sports announced a possible facility for Chatham-Kent, saying they’ve been looking at Chatham-Kent for close to a year for a new indoor soccer and multi-sport facility.

Since the announcement, local soccer, rugby, football, tennis, and lacrosse groups have reciprocated the interest to Canlan. Wallaceburg Lacrosse president Todd Shepley says that this facility could fit their organizational needs and help to grow the sport of lacrosse across Chatham-Kent,

“This could be a great center to host tournaments, winter and summer lacrosse camps and a winter lacrosse league,” says Shepley. “This would be a great opportunity to showcase and grow this sport to all of Chatham-Kent. With Field Lacrosse now the #1 sport for US Scholarship opportunities this type of facility would only enhance the talent of our local lacrosse athletes.”

According to Canlan Director of Partnership Solutions and Real Estate John Knifton, his company is currently examining all options, the Chatham-Kent market, and creating a business plan, which needs to be completed before the group can move forward,

“At this point in time we are performing our market due diligence to be certain there is a demand for our product,” said Knifton earlier this month.

Although plans for the facility have not yet been finalized, Wallaceburg Lacrosse is one of many groups interested in learning more,

“Wallaceburg Lacrosse as a whole would be very much interested in understanding the proposed multi-sports complex. Wallaceburg Lacrosse has sent a request to better understand the proposed facility. We look forward to further discussions,” explained Shepley, who serves as the president of both Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse, and the Wallaceburg Red Devils.

The potential new Canlan project is not the only facility on the mind of Wallaceburg Lacrosse, as they are still looking to develop an outdoor location following the Kraft Celebration Tour award last summer,

“Currently we are very involved in discussions and proposed options of the WDSS Tennis Court site,” said Shepley, “So our focus in these upcoming month’s will be very involved in this site. However the option of an indoor facility is of great interest to all of Wallaceburg Lacrosse.”

Continue to follow CKSN.ca for more details on the Canlan Ice Sports project as they are released.