Beijing and the MLB Draft

While The Sun reports that youth participation in organized sports is down nationally, we continue to see strong local programs here in Langley. I suspect the Sun's numbers are skewed by the number of children now living in urban areas like downtown Vancouver, far away from the parks and recreational amenities we have easy access to here.

Anyway, I want to bring attention to some local athletes who have benefited greatly from taxpayers' investments in parks and recreation facilities. The Sun's sports section has a piece on Langley's Brett Lawrie, who is being touted as a possible first-round pick in tomorrow's Major League Baseball draft. Two other Langley products could also be drafted: Stosh Wawrzasek and Carter Morrison. Good stuff.

And yesterday, Council received an email from swimmer Jake Tapp, who will represent Canada at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Eleven years ago, Langley Township Council voted to build a pool at the Walnut Grove Community Centre. They decided to build it to the 50-metre Olympic standard, after residents (like Greg Drew asked them to "go big or go home."

Like everything in that 1996-1999 term, it was a controversial decision. Today, we can't picture Walnut Grove without it. A generation of Langley swimmers have grown up with that facility, and Jake is headed to the Olympics. Jake has given me permission to post his letter here. It should be considered a heartfelt thanks to the people of Langley:

Dear Mayor Alberts, Langley Township Councillors, Langley Parks and Recreation Staff,

I would like to thank all of the members of the Township of Langley that have helped to support my dream of making the 2008 Beijing Olympic Swim team.

I first started training with the Langley Olympians Swim Club at W.C. Blair pool when I was ten years old. After the Walnut Grove pool was completed I began training more seriously, as this facility provided the perfect location to train both short course and long course as well as giving me the opportunity to train in my own community. Without this outstanding facility I would have had to commute to another community in order to receive the required training time and space that the sport of swimming requires.

Since graduating high school from D.W. Poppy in 2006 I have been attending the University of Arizona on a swimming scholarship and do the majority of my training with my team members at the university. When I am home on school breaks I continue to train with Brian Metcalfe and am proud to be representing The Langley Olympians at all of the local and national meets that I attend outside of my University meets.

This past weekend I was in Vancouver competing at the Mel Zajak meet at the UBC Aquatic Center. I will then be spending the rest of the week training with the Canadian Olympic Team at UBC. During my time at home I have had a chance to train at the Walnut Grove pool and meet with some of my younger team members. It has been a welcoming homecoming and I am very happy that I had this opportunity prior to The Olympic Games.

Thank you for your continued support of swimming in Langley. I am looking forward to representing both Langley and Canada in Beijing this summer and am sure that you will see more of my team-mates from Langley competing at this level for many years to come.

Most Sincerely,
Jake Tapp

I think some day the taxpayers of Langley will receive a similar letter regarding McLeod Athletic Park and the Langley Events Centre.