Young people in northwestern Saskatchewan now have a new place to play basketball and soccer – the NationsWEST Field House in North Battleford.
The $10 million facility was officially opened Tuesday and is sponsored by the Battlefords Tribal Council who paid $750,000 for naming rights.
On one side, it features two big courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton or tennis.
On the other, the facility has an indoor soccer turf.
On the third floor is a running track.
Little Pine First Nation Chief Wayne Semaganis says the facility will be great for local youth.
“We are constantly reading in the paper about unhealthy youth, so this gives them an opportunity to get active in a good and healthy way, it’s what we need in this community for sure,” he says. “We have long winters, so what do you do in the winter? Our school gymnasiums are small and we cannot accommodate every age group. A facility like this, you can accommodate a lot of age groups as to what it has to offer here.”
The building is part of a $57 million arts and recreational facility.