By Steph Crosier
Track Quest took one of its final steps today as the City of Quinte West, the Whitley family, and Whitley Insurance gave it a big boost.
In May 2010, Duncan Armstrong and the late Doug Whitley got together and decided that Trenton High School needed a new track.
“I teach disabled kids,” said Armstrong, the Coordinator of the Trenton Alumni Association and the co-sponsor co-organizer of the Trenton Track Quest, in an interview. “I’m out here everyday risking injury with those kids. They have a hard time walking and running, they need a nice safe area to walk on.”
Unfortunately Doug Whitley died before the project could be completed.
“Father Doug really initiated the project,” said Paul Whitley, of Whitley Insurance and co-sponsor co-organizer of the Trenton Track Quest. “He was kind of inspired with what was happening in Brighton with their fundraising for a new track there. He saw that at this facility, that is heavily used, had really fallen into a state of dis-repair. He thought the community deserved a much improved facility.”
In memory of their father, the Whitley family came to the presentation. There they donated $100,000 from themselves and Whitley Insurance.
Duncan Armstrong approached the City of Quinte West this past spring. Council voted and decided to support Track Quest. Today their support was shown with a donation of $150,000. Mayor John Williams was there to hand over the check that will not only be for the school but for the community as well.
“There’s all kinds of groups that use it besides the high school,” said Williams. “There’s the high school, military groups, other activities that happen within the city. There are many groups that will benefit. Anytime we can do something like this, have a first class facility, this is what we want to have.”
The students of THS are excited for the new track. Even though a lot of them do not run track, they acknowledge the importance of it. Hundreds of students showed up to support the Track Question presentation wearing school colours and making signs. Shannon Fitzpatrick, THS tiger mascot, says students know it is for everyone.
“It’s going to mean an equal opportunity for everybody,” says Fitzpatrick. “It’s going to be here for everybody to use it. It’s not just for the students its for everybody in the area, because every body uses it.”
Fitzpatrick says the Track Quest project has benefitted the school and it’s students even more than giving them a new track.
“I think everybody is just excited to be able to say we did it,” says Fitzpatrick. “To show that Trenton High spirit, and say we can accomplish something if we put our minds to it.”