A new era of sports has been ushered in at W.C. Miller Collegiate with the long-awaited opening of a new gymnasium on Tuesday.

After nearly a year-and-a-half of construction, students and staff at the Altona high school caught their first glimpses of the state-of-the-art space at a morning assembly to officially open the doors to the $6 million addition. The first class to use the new gym hit the floor immediately after, and everyone was invited to shoot some hoops during the lunch hour.

Principal Angela Pilkington was excited to finally see the day arrive.

"As we've taken the time to move the equipment over in the last couple of days and got the space ready, people are trying to be the first ones in," she said. "But we really kept it in lockdown...and that moment they walked through the doors, aside from many of the pictures we've posted online, it would've been the first time they've seen the space and I think they were impressed."

Although court sports have wrapped up for the year, Pilkington says she is eager to see how the expanded floor space and added ceiling height will benefit volleyball and basketball in 2019/20.

The new 12,918 square foot facility is located on the south side of the school and is roughly two-and-a-half times the size of the previous 4,800 sq. ft. gym that carried an 18 ft. ceiling height. The addition includes 6,500 square feet of new gymnasium space with a 24 ft. high ceiling, updated change rooms, storage, office space and a 1,000 sq. ft. fitness room. A link was also constructed to connect the addition to the school.

Long-time Phys Ed teacher Ramona Henschel took the first ceremonial basketball shot at Tuesday's assembly, officially opening the new gym alongside veteran teacher Dennis Friesen. The day was an emotional one for Henschel who waited her entire nearly 30-year career for this moment.

"It's a big investment that the community has made and I'm really proud to be a part of this staff and have the administration that we do," she said.

"We can now offer our kids a quality program...there will be no sitting around in this class anymore!"

Brock hopes this new gym will inspire a new generation of Aces team spirit at the high school.

It is anticipated the extra room provided by the new facility will create a variety of added sporting opportunities for the school, including the chance to host more provincial championships.

For Tim Brock, who's been teaching at W.C. Miller for 6 years, Tuesday's opening celebration was an opportunity to inspire a new generation of school spirit.

"Decades of students have come through here wishing to have something different change and for this group, it's finally come to fruition so I think that's a fresh start for us."

In speaking to past teachers at the school, Brock said the stands used to be packed with spectators taking in the extra-curricular sporting events.

"I don't know what's happened since that time but I hope this space allows that noise and our pride for the Aces to come back and to better than it ever has been," he noted.

The upcoming badminton season will be the first opportunity for community members to come and cheer on their Miller Aces in the new space.

While the new gymnasium is now in use, some final touches still need to be made to the adjoining fitness centre and the exterior before the project is fully complete.

Aces past and present gathered for a group photo at Tuesday's opening.

 

Timelapse video of the gym floor installation. Courtesy the W.C. Miller YouTube page, Wallace Conrad.