ROB BROWN
A financial institution has gone to bat for a north Winnipeg-based cricket program. The Royal Bank of Canada recently made a $20,000 donation to the Maples community cricket program.
The donation, which was officially presented to club officials during a May 29 ceremony, will be used to construct new cricket nets at Elwick Cricket Park.
Kamta Roy Singh, head coach of the Maples cricket program, said the Elwick location, next to Elwick School on Maberley Road, has undergone some drastic changes of late.
“A few years ago, this whole area looked like a rice field with some bushes and suffered from quite a bit of vandalism,” he said.

Dan Ricard, president of the Maples Recreation Association, said last week’s announcement represents a real turnaround for the Elwick site. Seven years ago it was nearly forced to close due to inactivity and conditions.

Last week’s announcement was originally supposed to be held in conjunction with the Maples International Cricket Match featuring players from Winnipeg, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the United States. However the match was cancelled due to poor weather.
Derek Dabee, manager of the community centre’s cricket program, said The Maples is quickly becoming a hub for cricket in Winnipeg.
“It is exciting,” he said. “This is one of the few places in the city players have the opportunity to play organized cricket.”
Dabee said workshops with local schools have increased interest in the sport in north Winnipeg.
For more information about the Maples Cricket program, call 779-6101.