HISTORY
Twin Elm Rugby Park was founded by a dedicated group of rugby enthusiasts on June 25th, 1973. The park is jointly owned by the Bytown Blues, Ottawa Beavers & Banshees, Ottawa Ospreys, and the Ottawa Irish Rugby Club. Under the management of a volunteer Board of Directors, Twin Elm has grown over the last half century to hold a special place in Canada’s rugby history. The park has hosted provincial and national championships at the high school, junior and senior levels, as well as numerous international matches, including Canada’s epic 18-16 victory over France in 1994, and the Canadian women’s first ever home soil victory over the U.S.A. in 2001. The park has also showcased the Canadian German Shepherd championship, Gaelic Athletic competitions, lacrosse, and touch football to list a few.
Dozens of internationals have developed their skills on Twin Elms five pitches, and have gone on to wear the maple leaf with pride at Rugby World Cup’s going back 30 years, most recently at the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Twin Elm also holds the unique distinction of being the only rugby park in the world to have produced the captains of both the women’s and men’s national teams in consecutive Rugby World Cups. This unprecedented accomplishment occurred when Sherri Sparling captained Canada at the 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Spain, and Al Charron followed by leading the Canadian men’s squad into Australia in 2003.
In the Spring of 2023 Twin Elm continued its proud tradition of excellence in helping to develop elite players as the Ontario Senior women played two games against their Quebec counterparts, and the Rugby Canada Youth Commonwealth Games 7’s held trial matches. Twin Elm is looking forward to assisting Rugby Canada as they host the Pacific Four Series, U20 and U18 women’s rugby in the Nation’s Capital during the summer of 2023.
TWIN ELM RUGBY PARK RENEWAL FUND
The Twin Elm Rugby Park Renewal Fund was established in June 2023. It is intended to provide funding from interest earned and capital withdrawals for the renewal of the existing Twin Elm Rugby Park.
The Renewal Project recognizes the 50th Anniversary of Twin Elm Rugby Park, and “builds” on the $280,000 recently invested to upgrade the park facilities, honouring the important place Twin Elm holds in Canada’s rugby history and ensuring this legacy is sustained for future generations. The Fund would encompass the multiple needs of the renewal project and allow donors to notify the board of their preference for how their donations would be spent, subject to being consistent with the aims and objectives of the Foundation and Rugby Canada in terms of the growth and development of Rugby in Canada, and compliance with CRA regulations.
For example, one of the primary needs is to replace the old, donated lawnmower with a modern zero-turn mower designed for facilities the size of ours, which would result in significant time savings in volunteer hours. Other improvements include modernizing the lockers to 21st-century standards, renewing the lounge, replacing stands, and adding landscaping such as fences or tree planting. The list would be open-ended as long as rugby-related and of a longer-term capital expenditure versus current operating expense.
Should the project not go ahead as planned, or be canceled, the Twin Elm Rugby Park Board of Directors may decide to repurpose this Fund towards another project or convert the Fund into an endowment fund that supports the growth and development of rugby in Canada, Eastern Ontario or the Twin Elm Rugby Park specifically, consistent with the Mission of the Canadian Rugby Foundation.
TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE TWIN ELM RUGBY PARK RENEWAL FUND, SEE BELOW: