A lack of new facilities, existing amenities in need of maintenance and a population steadily on the rise have created the perfect storm for West Shore youth sports organizations, who are 鈥渞unning ragged鈥� to meet demand.

鈥淚 don't think we have more than a 24-month window before there's going to be people excluded from playing in all the sports,鈥� said Harold Bloomenthal, who has volunteered for 15 years as president of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, which has roughly 760 members.

Limited time on the ice at Westhills Arena has forced the non-profit organization to cut back on skill development sessions, limit registration for tournaments and have teams share space for practice. 

鈥淎s it stands, this year, we were able to accommodate everybody, but only just,鈥� says Bloomenthal. 鈥淏ut our hockey program is not as good right now as it was five years ago, and it's simply because we don't have time in the facility to be as good.鈥�

And the story is the same for other youth sports, which collectively represents 鈥渢housands鈥� of West Shore kids, says Bloomenthal.

Wanting to know how other organizations are also faring, Bloomenthal met with representatives from other West Shore grassroots sports, including lacrosse, rugby, basketball, baseball and soccer.

鈥淚 wasn't surprised that the outcome was all of those folks were struggling to run their programs too,鈥� says Bloomenthal.

Lack of access to soccer fields, a lacrosse box 鈥渇alling apart鈥� and baseball diamonds in 鈥減oor repair,鈥� were some of the problems facing West Shore clubs, he says.

鈥淚t all came tumbling out. In general, nobody鈥檚 complaining so much about the existing facilities; the issue is simply there is not enough.

鈥淏ut we can't keep having more families and more children coming to the West Shore and no additional facilities to offer them. How does that possibly work?鈥�

Bloomenthal says the group of youth sports leaders were preparing themselves to approach West Shore municipalities to raise awareness of their plight and ask for help.

But then news broke that the City of Langford was considering spending $35 million to buy Westhills YW/YMCA Langford Aquatic Centre.

The potential purchase has left the clubs nervous there won鈥檛 be enough money to help them maintain existing facilities and provide new ones.

鈥淚t's not only up to Langford,鈥� said Bloomenthal. 鈥淏ut in this instance, the news about the YMCA triggered everybody. We feel really vulnerable because that's a tremendous amount of money.鈥�

Currently, the five West Shore municipalities 鈥� Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Highlands and Metchosin 鈥� collaborate on some recreation services through the West Shore Parks and Recreation (WSPR) Society.

Acknowledging future recreation facilities should be planned collaboratively to ensure the West Shore has 鈥渁dequate and appropriately located facilities,鈥� the WSPR has set the wheels in motion to create a Recreation Master Plan, said a City of Langford spokesperson.

鈥淭he master plan will guide future facility development and service delivery discussions and set the foundation for discussions related to cost share and/or ownership arrangements,鈥� said the spokesperson.

While welcoming of the master plan, Bloomenthal says youth sports leaders want more clarity and reassurance they are included in the 鈥渂igger picture鈥� for recreation on the West Shore in the future.

鈥淏ecause we aren't in charge,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e want to know from the people who are in charge what the remedy for this is going to be and how it's going to fit into the other plans they have.鈥� 

鈥淵outh sports organizations are largely volunteer-run and mostly for kids at a grassroots level, we want to know that those needs are going to be met.

鈥淔oolish as it may be, I'm the kind of guy who's losing sleep over this.鈥�