BURSTMore than 400 players, coaches, family members, volunteers and others will be congregating on three sports fields in Terrace beginning July 24, 2026 as the Terrace Minor Softball Association hosts the provincial youth softball championships.
There will be 20 teams taking part – 9 U13 teams, 7 U15 teams, and 4 U17 teams from Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers, Houston, Burns Lake, 100 Mile House, Barriere, Cache Creek and Clearwater.
It will be the first time Terrace has hosted a softball tournament of this size since 2019.
Of the team total, three of the U13 teams, one U15 team and one U17 team are from Terrace.
Organizing the tournament has taken a core group of approximately 20 people, said Jesse Geeraert, the president of the Terrace Minor Softball Association.
And there are two organizing co-chairs, Chrissy Bennett and Lindsay Harder, said Geeraert.
“It’s a lot of work. We’ve had a couple of dedicated parents and their families out nonstop the past few weeks getting the fields ready. We want everything to look nice,” Geeeraert said.
The number of participating teams means three fields will be needed – Elks Park for U13 games, upper and lower Cassie Hall fields for U15 games and Kerr Rotary Park for U17 games.
Games begin 8 a.m. July 24, with finals taking place on July 26.
Official opening ceremonies take place at Rotary park at 2 p.m., July 24.
With three fields being used, Geeraert says as many as 100 volunteers are needed to ensure everything runs smoothly.
“We have to have somebody designated as first aid on site. We have an information table after every game and somebody has to go out and quickly touch up the lines on the field,” she said.
“So there’s constantly things to do.”
Geeraert said the city has put on extra shifts to help prepare the fields and its workers will be present during the tournament.
“They’ve been helping immensely,” she added.
Also helpful have been local tourism officials through the visitor centre who have prepared information on local amenities for the visiting teams.
While Terrace will be familiar for northwestern teams, the tournament may be the first time players, coaches and families from elsewhere have made the trip.
Geeraert said the tournament gives the city a chance to showcase Terrace and area to first time visitors. To that end, she and others have been keeping an eye on the weather forecast.
“We’re looking at sun and 25 degrees which honestly is just perfect,” she said.
Those interested in volunteering can visit this site to sign up: https://volunteersignup.org/KR4YM. The site contains a list of specific volunteer opportunities.
The Terrace Minor Softball Association can be found on Facebook.