In June, the Canadian Interuniversity Sport board of directors is expected to welcome the University of Northern British Columbia as a new member of the CIS, competing in the organization's Canada West conference.
Approval by the CIS has generally been regarded as a formality, and it became even more certain after a Friday visit to Prince George by Gord Grace.
Grace, president of Ontario University Athletics within the CIS, was here to tour the campus, the city, and to meet with senior executives at UNBC. Based on what he saw and heard, Grace had no concerns about the school's CIS future, said athletics director Jason Kerswill.
"He is extremely confident that we're going to be successful members of the CIS," Kerswill said. "He was blown away by the facilities. He was amazed -- and stated this several times -- with the number of sport and athletic facilities we have in Prince George. For a city of 75,000, he thought this was amazing.
"He believes that [Canada West] was evaluating our application with a fine-tooth comb and the CIS respects that and will go in order with Canada West's wishes to have us as a member."
Grace was traveling on the weekend and could not be reached for comment.
Last September, UNBC was granted entrance into the Canada West Universities Athletic Association in men's and women's basketball and men's and women's soccer. The teams, which previously competed at the B.C. college level, are slated to begin play in the 2012-13 Canada West season on a probationary basis. Before that can happen, however, the CIS must apply its rubber stamp on the application.
Grace was particularly impressed with the Northern Sport Centre, which contains the home court of the Northern Timberwolves basketball teams and the fieldhouse in which the soccer teams often practice.
"He thought that the Northern Sport Centre was well beyond what the norm would be in the CIS," Kerswill said.
Grace was also shown the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League Fields and Michelle Lamarche Fields, the surfaces on which the UNBC soccer teams will play their home games. Even though turf fields -- as opposed to natural grass -- are becoming the trend across Canada, Grace liked what he saw.
"He was impressed with the clubhouse facility, the fact it's right there on the field," Kerswill said. "There are some facilities in Canada that don't necessarily have a clubhouse right beside the field. We also took him past Masich Place Stadium -- where exhibition [soccer] games have been played in the past -- and said that may be something we consider moving forward as well."
In the meetings, meanwhile, Grace had the chance to sit down with the likes of UNBC president George Iwama, vice president and provost Mark Dale and vice president of external relations Rob van Adrichem. All three showed their support for the move to Canada West and the CIS.
"It was a great opportunity to really talk about athletics at the university and, for me, it's great to hear that support again," Kerswill said. "It's definitely at the forefront of something we're trying to do at the university and it's great that we're all moving in the same direction."
Grace will now give a report to the CIS board and membership and the vote will take place at the annual general meeting in Ottawa in the third week of June.
