Over the past decade, the University of Winnipeg campus has expanded considerably. The Richardson College, McFeetors Hall, the Buhler Centre, and the AnX are a few among many admirable additions to the campus. The newest addition, opened in September, is an indoor recreational facility called the UNITED Health and RecPlex.

The RecPlex houses a full-size turf field which can be used for soccer, football and lacrosse as well as a 60m sprint track, a long jump and triple jump track, a gymnasium, a multi-purpose room, an underground parkade, retractable batting cages, a student lounge, and a rock
climbing wall. 

General Manager of Athletic and Wellness Facilities, Dean Melvie explains that the facilities will not only serve the University sports teams, there is also a substantial mandate for community groups and University groups. Students and community members have access to the RecPlex facilities during drop-in hours, free of cost. 

“You don’t have to be a [Wesmen] athlete to take part in the activities in the RecPlex. It’s here for everyone to come in, participate and enjoy,” Melvie notes.

The acoustic and ventilation systems within the multi-purpose room accommodates everything from yoga to aerobics to smudging ceremonies and drumming circles. The turf field serves for such activities as dodgeball and ultimate, while the gymnasium can be used for wrestling, volleyball and basketball. And, if you need a place to study, you can head to the comfy second-floor student lounge.

Wesmen sports teams benefit from the new complex as well. Since the soccer program is still new to the University, both teams have struggled to find quality fields in the inner-city area for training sessions, sometimes having to travel far distances or settle for sub-par field conditions. This space allows athletes a quality field to practice, right in the heart of campus.

“I’m really pleased with it. It has helped us in training and to become a better team,” says fifth-year defender, Gaetan Infantino. “Before we would have to practice at Sturgeon where it was a 15 - 20 minute drive from school. Now we are right on campus and only a couple of minutes away from our classes so it’s a lot more convenient for everyone.”

The new facilities will also have an important impact on the Inner City Junior Wesmen program, available free for boys and girls of all ages in a variety of sports. 

One of the primary drivers of the inner-city soccer program and Wesmen men’s soccer head coach Pedro Daza appreciates the generosity of donors who supported the construction of the complex and continue to support the various inner city programs offered through Wesmen. He notes the complex is an important asset to the inner-city community. 

“I think this will be a central place for them [inner-city youth] to be and a safe place to be,” Daza says. 

Now that you have heard from some of the RecPlex’s fans, what do you think of the new facility?

Janelle Deniset is in the Political Science Honours program at the University of Winnipeg. She was on the Wesmen Women’s soccer team for 4 years.

Published in Volume 69, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 1, 2014)