PotashCorp Donation Helps Bring Vanier Cup to the University of Saskatchewan
Posted July 08, 2005
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 8, 2005 2005-07-02-KIN
PotashCorp Donation Helps Bring Vanier Cup to the University of Saskatchewan
Sports Precinct To Be Named PotashCorp Park
University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon and PotashCorp
President and CEO Bill Doyle today announced plans to invest a $5 million
donation from PotashCorp in upgrades to Griffiths Stadium. The donation will
enable the University to host the Vanier Cup in 2006.
The University was awarded the 2006 Vanier Cup by Canadian Interuniversity
Sports (CIS) on the condition the field be upgraded with artificial turf and
field lighting installed. PotashCorp's gift will pay for those projects as
well as provide other facility upgrades in Griffiths Stadium.
"The refurbishment will create a first-class facility for Huskie athletes
and the 2006 Vanier Cup," said Doyle. "We believe this will enrich the
student experience, raise the profile of the University of Saskatchewan and
the City of Saskatoon and strengthen the ties between the campus and our
community."
"Without PotashCorp's commitment, we may not have been able to meet all the
requirements for bringing the Vanier Cup to Saskatoon. PotashCorp really
saved the day," said Carol Rodgers, Dean of the College of Kinesiology,
where the Huskies are based.
In thanking Doyle and PotashCorp, U of S President Peter MacKinnon spoke
about the long-term impact of the gift. "The benefits of the Griffith
Stadium upgrades will be felt for years to come by Huskie athletes and fans
as well as the many community sports programs which also make use of the
facilities."
To recognize PotashCorp's long-standing relationship with the University of
Saskatchewan, its outstanding leadership and community support, the U of S
will name the sports precinct on the south side of College Drive, PotashCorp
Park. Griffiths Stadium, along with the adjacent fields used by Campus
Recreation and other groups, are included in PotashCorp Park.
MacKinnon also thanked Doyle for his personal involvement in the campaign.
"PotashCorp's commitment to this campaign goes far beyond their leadership
gift. President and CEO Bill Doyle has been a leader and motivator in this
campaign - serving as Chair of the Saskatchewan Campaign Committee and a
member of the National Advisory Board."
The CIS championship football game, the Vanier Cup, will be held in
Saskatoon on November 25, 2006. It is the first time this national sporting
event will be held outside of Ontario. A study by Saskatoon Sports Tourism
estimates that tourists coming to Saskatoon for the Vanier Cup will spend
$7,403,679 in Saskatchewan. Of this, $4,807,785 represents the profit
generated from their expenditures and is the net economic impact or Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of the 2006 Vanier Cup.
The donation is the lead gift in the University's Thinking the World of our
Future fundraising campaign. With a goal of raising $100 million by the
university's centennial year in 2007, the campaign will result in increased
financial support for students, improved facilities and enhanced
opportunities for learning and research.
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For more information, please contact:
Susan Burton
Campaign Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1851
Rhonda Speiss
Manager, Public Relations
PotashCorp
(306) 933-8544
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PotashCorp Gift Designation Backgrounder
2006 Vanier Cup - Saskatoon
Economic Impact Estimates from Saskatoon Sports Tourism
It is expected that tourists coming to Saskatoon for the Vanier Cup will
spend $7,403,679 in Saskatchewan. Of this, $4,807,785 represents the profit
generated from their expenditures and is the net economic impact or Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of the 2006 Vanier Cup.
Griffiths Stadium
The gift from PotashCorp will pay for upgrades including artificial turf,
stadium lights, and other refurbishments.
Griffiths Stadium is used by the University of Saskatchewan and the
Saskatoon community for Huskies football home games, community football and
rugby teams, elementary and high school track and field athletics, and a
variety of sporting events.
Huskie Football
Huskie football players have maintained a tradition of academic excellence.
Last year's team included:
- Three student/players named to the CIS Academic All-Canadian team, earning
a minimum 80.0% average on at least 18 credit units.
- Six student/players named to the Huskie Athletics All-Academic First Team,
with minimum averages of 79.5%.
- Eight student/players named to the Huskie Athletics All-Academic Second
Team, attaining averages of at least 74.5% on a minimum 24 credit units.
The Huskie Football team is currently represented in six Colleges at the
University of Saskatchewan: Agriculture, Arts and Science, Commerce,
Education, Engineering and Kinesiology.
Student athletes come from across Saskatchewan. While many are from
Saskatoon, they also come from Findlater, Eatonia, Loreburn, Foam Lake,
Caronport, Delisle, Wilkie, Wilcox, Humboldt and Hague. Fans come from
throughout the province to watch the Huskies play their home games at
Griffiths Stadium.
The Huskie football team has won the Vanier Cup Championship in 1990, 1996
and 1998 and played in the championship game seven times.
PotashCorp
PotashCorp is the world's largest fertilizer producer by capacity, producing
the three primary plant nutrients: potash, nitrogen and phosphate. From its
head office in Saskatoon, it has built an extended enterprise that includes
operations in seven countries and customers around the world.
In addition to being a leader in its industry, the company has a
longstanding practice of being a leader in the communities where it
operates. It has committed $5 million to the University of Saskatchewan's
current campaign and previously donated $5 million to construct the PCS
Centre at the College of Commerce.
