Burnaby celebrates opening of new Sohen Gill Sports Box

On Saturday, July 13, the City welcomed residents of all ages to the Sohen Gill Sports Box, a newly-constructed multi-use covered sports box in Confederation Park, for the facility’s official opening ceremony. The event was attended by an estimated 500 people, including Mayor Mike Hurley, City Councillors, family members, and many of Sohen Gill’s colleagues, rivals, and coworkers from his storied career in lacrosse.

The dedication of this box was especially meaningful to its namesake’s legacy, as it was at Confederation Park that a young Sohen Gill first picked up a lacrosse stick. In the decades since that fateful day, his skill and dedication to the sport earned him recognition as a pillar of Canadian lacrosse as a player, coach, general manager and commissioner, who led the Junior A Norburn Lacrosse Club to the Minto Cup finals in their inaugural year. Gill was a three-time recipient of the Tom Gordon 'Mr. Lacrosse' Award and was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. 

"Sohen Gill was a true pioneer and ambassador of lacrosse in Burnaby and beyond. He dedicated his life to the sport and inspired generations of players and fans. We are proud to honour his legacy with this new sports facility that will serve our community for years to come," said Mayor Hurley.

The official opening ceremony featured speeches by Mayor Hurley, elder Dennis Joseph of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh nation, and Mr. Gill’s daughter Tracey. The event also included lacrosse and basketball demonstrations, as many of Burnaby’s young residents got a chance to hold a lacrosse stick for the first time and learn the basics of the sport- with any luck, maybe Burnaby’s next lacrosse legend will get their start at Confederation Park as well. 

About Sohen Gill Sports Box
This brand-new covered facility replaced the previous open-air lacrosse box at Confederation Park, and features an asphalt playing surface that is lined for lacrosse, ball hockey, basketball (4 hoops total), pickleball and badminton (6 dual-use courts total). The facility is open for drop-in and registered programs, as well as allotments for local sports groups. 

More information: Burnaby.ca/OutdoorBoxes