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Fraser Lake resident fighting for youth and senior facility

Fraser Lake local Michael Walsh has been campaigning for the kids in his town for the last seven years.
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Michael Walsh holds up one of the new Fraser Lake Rollersport Club T-Shirts that are available to buy.

Fraser Lake local Michael Walsh has been campaigning for the kids in his town for the last seven years.

That's why he has started up the Fraser Lake Roller Sport Club - a non-profit group whose aim is to build an indoor facility that could house activities and entertainment for both kids and seniors in the village.

His campaign for the facility started when his own kids left home after graduating high school.

"My kids grew up in Fraser Lake but as soon as they finished Grade 12 they said dad we're out of here because there's nothing to do," said Walsh who also works at the local sawmill.

"So now that my house is empty I'm going to fight for the young kids - they said "dad do it because there's nothing for the kids and when we were young we had to go out and make all our own fun," he added.

The Fraser Lake Roller Sport Club currently has about six members all working to get the idea of the new facility out to the public.

Recently they held a T-shirt logo competition for kids to enter into. 10-year-old Joey Shen, from Fraser Lake was chosen as the winner and received a $20 prize.

Now the T-shirts have been made and can be brought for $15.99. All the profits will go towards advertising the club and getting the word out.

"All the money at the moment is going into advertising to get people aware of Fraser Lake and that we are trying to get something for seniors and young kids here," said Walsh.

He added that the club has already found the perfect piece of land for the facility which is right across the road from the Fraser Lake Hotel.

"It's right on the main drag ... it's a beautiful spot," said Walsh.

"Now all we need is the funding," he said, adding that the land is priced at $100,000.

Within the facility Walsh would like to see an indoor miniature golf facility with 36 holes, an indoor skate park and a cafe.

He would also like the facility to be the permeant terminal for the Greyhound Bus that comes through the Village.

"There's no fixed place for the Greyhound Bus terminal - Subway used to be the terminal, then another store and then the Fraser Lake Hotel was the bus depot ... you have to have a fixed place for people to go when the bus comes in where you're away from the weather," said Walsh.

"There's a hell of a lot of kids in fraser lake ... and we need to get the young kids active before they get into trouble," he said.

"If you don't skate or curl there isn't a whole lot to do here."

 

Anyone who would like to order a T-shirt should call Bang On T-Shirts Ltd on 1604-684-3304 and ask for Helene.