Challenge
Since 2005 St. Joseph’s Hospice has served the Sarnia-Lambton community as a resource centre for terminally ill people as they face their illnesses and support programs for people caring for or grieving the loss of a loved one.
In response to community need, the organization expanded its services in late 2009 to include the Residential Hospice, a 10-suite, home-like residence that provides, free-of-charge, 24-hour specialized palliative care to people living with a terminal illness, as well as those in their life circle.
Solution
Norm Perry Memorial Park was badly in need of an upgrade. For over 90 years, the park had served the community well, hosting countless football, soccer, lacrosse and rugby teams. Now it needed a $1 million upgrade to its south field that would include artificial turf, new lights and a new scoreboard. The upgrade would allow more sports clubs to use the field and host more tournaments.The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation stepped up to the plate and donated $275,000 toward the $1 million upgrade. The balance would come from the Sarnia Boys’ Soccer Club and the city.
The park had a rich athletic history. Originally called Athletic Park, Norm Perry Park had been used for athletic activities since the 1920s. It was the home field for the Sarnia Imperials football team and had hosted the famous CFL Grey Cup in 1933.
Norman Alix himself had fond memories of the park, recalling big crowds watching the Sarnia Golden Bears play football there in the 1950s and many high school football rivalry games as well. He and Judith wanted to be sure others would have those types of experiences.
“We felt that it was a real good project for the sports in this town and for the local economy,” Norman Alix said. “That’s an old park, and the upgrade will rejuvenate it and give it new life for many years to come.”