Spectrum Community School is making a final push for public support as it races to raise the last $1 million needed for a long-awaited turf field that’s been in the works for nearly a decade.
First launched in 2018, the project has gathered significant momentum, backed by a $2 million private donation and additional pledges from the District of Saanich ($300,000) and Peninsula Co-op ($20,000).
With roughly $2.3 million already committed, the school and its supporters say they’re now closer than ever to turning the vision into reality – but inflation and rising construction costs make the timing critical.
The $1 million still needed would cover construction of the turf, lighting, and fencing. The goal is to raise the money quickly to avoid further price hikes as costs continue to climb.
“A new turf field is within reach and we are really counting on community support for this final stretch of fundraising,” says Spectrum principal Aaron Norris. “We recognize that not everyone is able to give financially, but simply sharing the story of the school community’s efforts will help immensely
The synthetic, all-weather field would replace Spectrum’s current grass surface, which has been 'mostly unusable' for over 15 years due to flooding and poor drainage.
School teams have long been forced to train and compete off-site – despite growing success, especially in soccer. This past May, Spectrum’s girls team captured the AAA provincial title, solidifying the school’s place among B.C.’s elite.
But school officials say the field would serve far more than just their own student-athletes.
"We envision the new turf to inspire partnerships with local sports teams and community organizations, such as the Victoria Spartans Football, the Westcastle International Academy soccer team, Victoria Ultimate Players Society, and the Victoria Sport & Social Club," they said.
Dominic Butcher, who spearheaded the campaign in 2018, says the final push will be the most important.
"We’ve had some significant donations come in and it puts us into the finalization stage of the project, which is very exciting for everyone involved,” says Butcher.
The project got a high-profile boost last summer when Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC – co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – lent support during a Spectrum-hosted fundraiser.
While that spike in attention helped draw in more donations, school officials say they’re now entering the most urgent phase yet.
Once fully funded, construction would begin based on contractor availability, with the aim of opening the field as soon as possible.
