Just For The Fun Of It

We are sure you as families are wondering about the upcoming season of basketball In our program. We are currently continuing to monitor the progression of return to play for our sport, provincial and health unit recommendations, and decisions that will be made regarding Community Use of Schools by the ALCDSB in the weeks ahead. We will make a decision in August about the season, and that decision will be based on ensuring the safety of our volunteers, players and their families, as well as the schools where we operate. Our commitment is to all our partners in sport, and to delivering the experience you have come to expect from us.

On July 3, 2014 the founder of our league passed away. It is hard to believe that it has been six years since we have seen that smile watching children play in the league that he established 66 years ago, heard that booming laugh when he met someone he knew. or saw former players and parents coming over to greet him in the gym that had his name on it. We miss him, but we will all be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to learn from him, and be mentored by him in how to treat people. We are grateful to have had him remind us that friendships are lifelong, and people don’t have to have a title in order to make a difference in the lives of those around them. Rest easy Don, and thanks for the lessons. We remain committed to keeping your dream alive.

It is with mixed emotions that I write this post. Stephanie Charlton, a former player , long time super volunteer and dedicated part of the Biddy Division team making Monday nights in the league possible, will be leaving KIngston to continue the next, and hopefully best, part of her life in the Peterborough area. All of us are happy for Steph, but I also know that she was a great help and personal support for all that we did in the league. She was always willing to help with registration, the two ball tournament, filling in at the canteen or on merchandise sales and with banquet duties every year, and for that she will be missed. Jackie Robinson wrote “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Stephanie has certainly had a positive impact on the players and the other volunteers in our league that she has worked with. Please join me in wishing her well.

We have been asked to post the following on behalf of Don Petersen’s Family.

“Keeping Pete’s dream alive in 2020 !
Looking for deserving candidates for the Pete Petersen Spirit Memorial Award.
It was Pete’s wish to establish an award of $1000.00 annually to be given to a graduating student continuing post- secondary education who has a history with the “Pete” Petersen Basketball league formally known as the Knights of Columbus Basketball League. Candidates must possess accomplishments in community volunteer work, school activities, academics, and have promising career aspirations making a difference in the lives of others as Pete did.
All are welcome to apply now …
Application Information can be found on the Don “Pete” Petersen Spirit Memorial Award page on Facebook, at
https://don-pete.webnode.com or at Bridget Walker-Payne’s Desjardins Office!”

Yesterday we announced the retirements of Jeff and Doreen Hoekstra from their roles in the league. Today we are happy to announce that Charlie Mignault and Louis Grogan will be expanding their current roles as coaches in the Graduate Division to also provide assistance to Pat with the duties of convening that group. Charlie will continue with his current duties as a member of the league executive as well. We are thrilled that Louis has agreed to continue league tradition of former players taking on more supportive roles as their time allows.

Jeff and Doreen Hoekstra have officially resigned as members of our league executive after more than ten years as volunteers in the league. They became involved when their sons were playing, and continued to be involved after. They have coached and refereed, and for the last few years have been mainstays at the Graduate Division, helping co-convene that group with Pat Adams. They have been great supporters at our events and always willing to get involved in doing the extras that have to be done. We will all miss their smiles and willingness to help, but most of all, their commitment to the children around the league. One of the phrases that finds a place on posters every year is “We grow friendships”. The friendships formed with Jeff, Doreen, Grant and Cameron will last beyond their “Official” membership in the organization, and that is something we will all be grateful for and cherish. All of us wish them well, and we hope they will not be strangers at the gyms or at events in the years to come.

Due to the ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and out of a concern for our league supporters and their families, it has been decided to cancel the annual Pete Petersen Memorial Golf Tournament for this year. We will plan on a safe return to the tournament in 2021. If you are able, please support the Amherstview Golf and Country Club this summer, along with the many Kingston Businesses that have supported this tournament every year.

Queen’s University has cancelled their summer sports camps out of concern for camp attendees and staff. This, of course, affects the league players that had been selected to attend. Here is the text of the announcement from the Queen’s ARC web site:

“Given the current public health environment and challenges presented by physical distancing, Queen’s has made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person youth camps normally delivered throughout the summer.

“We understand that this is disappointing news for campers and their parents,” said Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal, Finance and Administration. “The impacts and restrictions imposed on our community as we respond to the Covid-19 situation continues to be hard on everyone, and it’s been especially tough on families with young children.”

The health and safety of campers and camp staff is the university’s top priority. Based on its most current public health guidance, and given the indefinite nature of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic, the decision was made not to run any in-person camps this summer. Physical distancing requirements will likely remain in place through to the end of the summer.

The university notes any registration fees paid will be refunded; parents should consult their specific camp website or administrator for details. A few camps are exploring options for online summer camp programming, but these are still in development.

Students that are unemployed as a result of this decision may be eligible for one of several federal Covid-19 emergency benefits programs. Impacted students are welcome to contact the Student Awards Office if they have questions.

The university knows that the camp experience is an important one for children and counsellors. Queen’s camps have been a popular tradition in Kingston for years, and the university looks forward to maintaining that tradition once it is safe to do so. Information on the variety of Queen’s camps can be found online.

Q Campers who have registered for Summer Camps at the Queen’s Athletics and Recreation Centre will be e-mailed early this week with details on reimbursement options.”

On Tuesday we received a significant donation from the sister of Bill Sargent, Judy Boles. Bill passed away on March 4. In the letter that accompanied the donation, Judy said “My brother had known Pete for a number of years and we had discussed what he would like after his passing. He wanted some money to go to Pete’s basketball. Thank you for all you do to carry on Pete’s legacy”.

Our condolences to Judy and the Sargent family on their loss. Thank you for believing in what we do to carry on Don’s dream.

I have been reluctant to write posts during this crisis, but an email I received from a league family this morning asking if my wife and I were okay and if we needed anything, has prompted me to sit down on the keyboard and write a little. The email was a reminder that our league is very much a family and a community that care about each other, and also a reminder that these days are an opportunity for us to call, e mail, and check in on each other to see if people need any help. There are no doubt seniors in your life that could use someone to talk to because they may be either unable or afraid to go out. There are workers that can’t go to work because their businesses have been ordered to close down and may just like the chance to talk to someone. There are people in our community and league family that go to work in high risk positions that are worried about what the day will bring, and there are others that are working in the few businesses that remain open that look at each customer with a smile, but wonder if that last transaction was with someone that may be infected but didn’t know it. These are times that heighten anxiety and make many people turn inward. Reach out to those around you to talk, or in most cases just listen to what they have to say.

I have seen variations of this many times in the last few weeks and it can be easily adjusted to our organization.

When this is over, I will no longer take for granted :

The sound of basketballs bouncing
The sound of whistles blowing
The sound of children laughing
The availability of gummy worms at the canteen
Being able to spend time with my friends
The smell of the uniforms
The “good game” high fives
Rob and Chris asking “Guess what time it is?” at half time
Using the flip chart score board
The post game fan changes and the meeting of people
Parents and players helping set up and clean up.

What about you?

Stay well, stay safe and stay together. RB