‘This place is a gem,’ says college’s athletics manager (9 photos)

“People are surprised, when they get here, how nice it is. It’s a gem.”

That from Paul Orazietti, Sault College athletics department manager, describing the college’s Health and Wellness Centre.

“I think this facility reflects a huge investment by the college, not only important for the college but the community,” Paul said, speaking to SooToday.

The $12.5 million, 40,000 square foot facility opened in 2013.

It includes a gymnasium with an upper concourse for walking and running, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with plenty of windows to provide natural light and is located close to Odeno (the college’s licensed on-campus restaurant) and the Sault College Students Union (SCSU) offices.

Sault College Health and Wellness Centre fitness centre memberships are available to the public for purchase.

All wellness centre facilities, including the Waterfront Adventure Centre on McPhail Avenue, are available for public rental.

For Sault College students, varsity sports include men’s and women’s hockey, basketball and soccer, along with curling, cross country running and golf, along with a recently formed cricket team and the Cougars Cheer club, the centre’s gym the home base for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

“The Health and Wellness Centre is a key contributor to an enhanced student life. As a college, we want to ensure we’re not only student-centered but we also want to have a positive impact on the community with an invitational and inclusive approach,” said Steve McLeod, the college’s fitness and facilities coordinator.

“Sports aside, it’s a great community hub for different events like pow wows, open houses, robotics and bridge building competitions...it’s awesome,” Paul said.

The old Sault College A-wing gym and rooms, by the way, are still available for sporting events, conferences and a variety of other functions, used for certain activities such as pow wows and the school’s convocation ceremonies.

A Sault native, Paul Orazietti, a Sir James Dunn Collegiate grad, developed a passion for many different sports in his youth, especially football.

He played university football while attending Queen’s University, then played football overseas before returning to Canada to earn his teaching degree at the University of British Columbia in 1997 (playing for a championship-winning football UBC team).

From there, Paul worked as a high school teacher and football coach in Alberta, then as a full-time coach in BC before coming home to the Sault in Jan. 2019 to begin his current Sault College gig.

“I was really impressed with the new Health and Wellness Centre and its staff, so that, coupled with having family here, led me to make the jump back home,” Paul said.

“I’m very fortunate because I have a ton of help to oversee everything.”

Since taking the helm as the college’s athletics department manager, Paul has added some new elements to the college community’s athletic experience, such as July’s first annual scholarship breakfast (with keynote speaker Marty Turco), and helping to arrange the First Annual Winter Classic. 

The classic begins at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 at Rankin Arena, the Sault College Cougars men’s hockey team facing off against the University of West Virginia Mountaineers.

“I think it's going to be an amazing event. This will mark the first time that a major NCAA university (student population 35,000) has ever ventured this far north to play a sport of any kind in Sault Ste. Marie. Ever. For next year we’re looking into getting Michigan State men’s and women’s hockey teams to play at the GFL Memorial Gardens,” Paul enthused.

A wealth of Sault College Health and Wellness Centre information may be found online

For more information on the upcoming Winter Classic, click here