The Editor:
First, I would like to congratulate the community of Estevan for supporting football and for its effort in winning a stop on the Kraft Celebration Tour.
But as with anything these days, there are those who are forgotten and their story is not told.
This spring, football was not the only sport that lost the usage of Woodlawn field (or should I say, the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field); the long established soccer community also lost use of the field that we have used for many years.
Since long before football was alive in Estevan, Estevan's adult soccer leagues made their home in Woodlawn Park. I myself have been playing in the adult league for the past 15 years, all of which have been played at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field. This year, after the flood took away our ability to play on the field, we managed to continue our league by playing at the high school soccer field.
I would like to take the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the volunteer efforts of Sigfredo Gonzalez, who has been associated with the field and the soccer leagues for many years. During the summer months, if he wasn't at home, my family knew we could find him at the soccer field. He has cared for the field for years, though the field belongs to the RM and not to the soccer leagues.
Am I biased because he is my dad? Of course. Back in the days before the underground sprinklers, my dad was the only person out there morning and night carrying those heavy hoses along the length of the field to make sure that it stayed watered and green. He also looked after lining and painting the field. However, for some reason no one has asked him how he feels about the damages to the field caused by this spring's flooding.
My dad takes looking after the field seriously, and has always made it a priority. When it rains, he is the first to say, " No, we can't play because the cleats will ruin the field."
Unfortunately, when people do choose to play on the wet field, he is the only one out there covering up the holes. My family has asked my dad several times to leave it, to let someone else take care of the field. His response is always that if he doesn't do it, the field will rot and then we will have no place to play soccer.
If anyone deserves praise over the look and maintenance of the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field, it is my dad. Sure, the money that football is receiving will help repair the field - but what about once it's ready to go again? Who will be the one looking after it? Most likely it will only be my dad.
It may be a surprise to some people that the name of Woodlawn field was changed several years ago to the "Dana Quewezance Memorial Field." Dana was a young, avid soccer player in the community who sadly lost his life. Because of his dedication to soccer, members of his team had the name of the field changed in honour and remembrance of Dana. Every year since his death (with the exception of this year), the Dana Quewezance Memorial tournament has been played at the field in July with teams from Regina and Yorkton attending. Dana's family comes out to watch every single game and to establish an MVP from each team for each game. Friends of mine who have played in the tournament have expressed their appreciation of the field, and especially our ability to host night games.
Several people in the soccer community have voiced concerns regarding the field. For example, if the Dana Quewezance field is repaired with the money football won, will football take it as their own field and push soccer out? This would be devastating and frustrating to those of us who have only ever associated the field with soccer, and have spent our lives playing there.
Yes, it was only a field and the biggest devastation from the flood was the loss of people's homes. But I wrote this letter to remind people of the existence of soccer in Estevan. We, too, have lost our field due to the flooding and hope that one day we can go back. Can two community sports share one beautiful field? I hope we can, I believe we can. Hopefully football feels the same.
Mayra Gonzalez
Estevan, Saskatchewan
