LITTLE CURRENT—Michelle Anderson has soccer in her veins and the kinesiologist couldn’t wait to share her passion for the game when she moved to the Island from Saskatchewan to work at Manitoulin Physio Centre. Island youth are the beneficiaries of Ms. Anderson’s love of the game.
“I grew up playing soccer, played all through college and university and coached for 20 years,” she said. Now she has children of her own and wanted them to be able to play soccer as well. “When I moved to the Island I reached out to the (Northeast) town to ask if there was anyone running a soccer league here,” said Ms. Anderson. “When they said they didn’t, I asked if I could as I had run something similar while I was living in Saskatchewan.”
“Oh my goodness, it’s awesome!” said Northeast Town events coordinator Lisa Hallaert of Ms. Anderson’s offer to take on the organizing of summer soccer. “She has lots of experience and is such an amazing lady to take that on. Paul Van Kesteren did such an amazing job and we are so lucky to have someone to take it on now that he has moved.”
Ms. Anderson rolled up her sleeves and in short order, the bones were set in place to launch the league. “Our first registration deadline was April 22,” she said, “but we had so many people reaching out after that we decided to extend the deadline to May 6.”
That deadline was firm, and the league’s first game took place Tuesday, May 24.
Ms. Anderson said that there are 134 youth in the league, ranging in age from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7, and they hail from most points across Manitoulin.
“We have a good showing from Little Current, Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng and Gore Bay, as well as Kagawong, Sheguiandah and Manitowaning,” she said.
The soccer games take place on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 pm and run through to June 28.
The league is entirely volunteer-driven and currently sponsored solely by the Northeast Town, but they are open to sponsors who might want to help enhance the league for the benefit of the children. Those wishing to enquire about sponsoring soccer are welcome to contact Ms. Anderson by email at nemisoccer@gmail.com.
