Council Candidate Eric Schrank Talks Chatham-Kent Sports

CKSN asked all candidates running for Chatham-Kent council and mayor, to give us their backgrounds in sports and recreation, and decribe their goals and views for not only sports and recreation in Chatham-Kent, but making Chatham-Kent a healthier, and more active place to live.

The Chatham-Kent Municipal election day is October 27, 2014.

Here are council candidate Eric Schrank’s responses. Schrank is running for council in Ward 6 – Chatham.

1. Background in sports and recreation:

I currently coach for the Chatham-Kent Cougars football organization. I have been with them for 7 years now as a defensive coordinator. I started with the peewees and now am with the senior varsity. I have two sons who also play house league soccer during the week. I have encouraged them to try all sports, so they have also been involved in gymnastics, baseball, and football at the club level.

2. What specific ideas or goals do you have for Chatham-Kent, to improve or maintain recreational programs and facilities, and support our athletes and sports organizations? Or to help build opportunities for future growth in these areas?

By being new to the parenting side of athletics I have had the chance to now experience community athletics through the eyes of a player, coach, and parent. I feel that community athletics are growing and thriving in the community compared to when I was younger and this is definitely something that should continue to be fostered. There are barriers that stop children from playing a sport such as passion, time, and money. We must break down these barriers by having communication between organizations concerning practice and playing time and making sure the appropriate financing is available so that all children have the opportunity to play a sport and find one that they are passionate about.

Being a coach of a travel club I get to see the facilities of other communities. This can be eye opening at times. To facilitate the best possible experience for children playing sports we must keep our facilities up to date and maintained well. I would prefer to see a more open and positive working relationship between the municipality and the organizations to provide the facilities needed.

3. How will you work to make Chatham-Kent a healthier, more active place to live?

CK will become a healthier, more active community, when the opportunities are better available to all children. When the opportunities are available their passion will grow and build habits that will follow them throughout their life. I would look to provide that through breaking down the barriers mentioned earlier that prevent them from playing community sports

4. Anything else you’d like to add?

4. I can not understate the importance of sport in some children’s lives. Sport is not for everyone; some children will have a passion for art, music, science, etc. The affect that playing sports and being active can have on a child can me life changing none the less. It’s true that less than 1% of all child athletes will make money playing that sport as a career; but 100% of all athletes are affected by it in some positive way. I know personally that the opportunity to play more sports when I entered high school completely remolded my life in every way. The experiences I have had since high school due to playing sports would never have happened without it and I am happy that it happened, broken knee and all.

What did you think of Council Candidate Eric Schrank’s responses? Let us know in the comments below!