School board honours a fallen hero

In 2014, fundraising, design and coordinating efforts began on a structure to honour one of Sault Ste. Marie’s fallen heroes.

Yesterday, during a special presentation by the Algoma District School Board (ADSB), official construction plans for the new Sergeant John Faught Fieldhouse located at Superior Heights were announced.

Sergeant Faught was killed in action on January 16, 2010 while serving his country in Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

As a former student of and football player for Bawating Collegiate where Superior Heights stands today, naming a sports facility after him was a logical tribute.

The public fieldhouse will accommodate change rooms, public washrooms, a second-level media viewing platform, a ticket booth and concessions.

“For the Faught family, the fieldhouse will pay tribute to a son, a brother, and an uncle,” said ADSB Chair Jennifer Sarlo during her address. “For us as an education centre, as community members and as Canadians, it will stand as both a tribute and a reminder of those who fight and have fought for our freedom, our rights and our country.”

Construction is expected to start shortly and will be completed by ADSB students under the careful supervision of SalDan Developments Ltd.

“It’s been a while in the works,” Sergeant Faught’s mother, Donna Crosson, told SooToday. “It started off small and then seemed to mushroom. Throughout all of this, the school board has been wonderful, and my family has been wonderful.”

“It is custom designed to many people’s requirements,” said Tim Janzen, owner and engineer at MET Energy Systems. “We did everything we could throughout the design to get it as versatile as possible to meet the needs of everyone using it.”

Having students build the structure will mean more work for the contractors, said Janzen, but he has full confidence in SalDan President Sam Biasucci and his ability to coordinate the project.

Everyone involved in the project hopes to have the Sergeant John Faught Fieldhouse ready for service this coming September.

A news release issued by the Algoma District School Board follows.

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The Fieldhouse of dreams becomes a reality

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) has announced that it is moving ahead with the building of the Sergeant John Faught Fieldhouse, a community fieldhouse to be located next to the artificial turf field at Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School (SHCVS).

In the fall of 2014, ADSB approved a special fundraising project with the John Faught family to honour the memory of Sergeant John Wayne Faught, former student and football player at Bawating Collegiate.  

Following consultation with Ministry personnel and reviewing final budgeting plans, ADSB is now able to move ahead and see the memorial project through to completion.  

For the Faught family, it means one step closer to the completion of a facility that will aptly remember their son, brother and uncle.  

John’s mother Donna Crosson shared, “As a mother I strive to remember my son doing the things he loved to do. And John loved playing football. Having a fieldhouse named after him, at the spot where he used to play football, is a special way for our family and friends to remember him.”

Another exciting component of the project is that it will be constructed by Algoma District School Board students under the supervision of SalDan Developments Ltd.  

The partnership between ADSB and SalDan has been a long standing one with students working on House Building projects for over 12 years.  

SalDan’s commitment extends from the housebuilding project to seeing this particular project through to completion.  

ADSB thanked and acknowledged Sam Biasucci, who has been a driving force and who is keen to begin work with the students in the very near future.  

Algoma District School Board Chair Jennifer Sarlo is excited about how this facility will benefit the entire community.  

“We are excited about the fieldhouse becoming part of what we had always envisioned for the community – a multi-purpose recreational complex. The fieldhouse, alongside our artificial turf field and track, makes for an excellent facility for our students and staff. It also ensures that community partners and users have a top notch facility to host high-level competitions as well as increased community league play.”

Algoma District School Board Director of Education Lucia Reece thanked the many partners involved.  

“This type of venture could not be undertaken without the support and partnership of many community members. We are thankful to the Ministry of Education for helping to guide our vision for the Superior Heights school. Thank you to SalDan for their commitment to this project and to our students. We thank the many alumni, business partners, friends, colleagues and family members who contributed through our online Fund the Fieldhouse campaign or who helped promote our campaign. We would also like to thank the City of Sault Ste Marie staff for their support throughout the process. Sergeant John Faught exemplified the characteristics we hope to see in both our student athletes and all students – commitment, courage, perseverance and loyalty.  It will be an honour to create this space in his name.”

The John Faught Fieldhouse design will accommodate change rooms, public washrooms, a second level media viewing platform, a ticket booth and concession.  

Community partners and user groups are excited about the construction of the fieldhouse and recognize the benefits this facility now adds to the community.  

On hand at the announcement today were representatives from Algoma University’s athletics and recreation department, Sault Steelers, Sault United Football Academy and Sault Sabercats.

Also in attendance were members of the Military Family Support Group, administration and the athletic head from Superior Heights and councillors from the City of Sault Ste Marie.

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