Warren Collegiate Institute (WCI) is lacing up for the final stretch of its ambitious Track Revival Project, which aims to rebuild the school’s outdoor track for students, neighbouring schools, and the broader community.
Organizers are zeroing in on their last $50,000 in fundraising, launching a “buy a metre” campaign that invites supporters to sponsor one of the 400 metres of the new track at $100 each. Staff member Fallon Campbell said the idea came when the project was close to its target but still faced a daunting gap.
“We were so close to our goal, but that last little bit can be so daunting,” she said. “I just thought, ‘well, we have to get the money somehow. Just one metre at a time!’ and that’s where the metre campaign was born.”
The school will also host a community pancake breakfast on Sept. 21 and a bake sale, with alumni encouraged to get involved. Campbell said nostalgia plays a powerful role.
“Legacy and nostalgia are such powerful things,” she said. “There are a lot of memories made at WCI, and whether or not it was the 4x400m team that stood on the podium at Provincials in 2004, or the kid that started their running journey around the old track in phys. ed. class years ago — the memories still elicit that same response. These alumni understand the power that these memories hold, and I just know in my heart that they would support this for future students and the community.”
Over the summer of 2024, the Interlake School Division completed critical drainage improvements at the track site, laying the groundwork for future upgrades. In November, Campbell announced that Phase 1 of the project was complete thanks to volunteer labour and donations.
Phase 2 began earlier this year, with subsoil repairs addressing silt deposits and preparation for the base of a new six-lane track. Campbell said the most important first step in this phase was securing funds.
“This phase requires a substantial amount of money, so our first step was to secure funding,” she said. “We are so appreciative of the funding from the Province of Manitoba’s From the Ground Up grant, the Interlake School Division’s capital funding for outdoor spaces, the Richardson Foundation, the Lion’s Club of Warren, and everyone that supported our multiple fundraising efforts over the past year. So far we have solidified the design through Dillon Consulting. This allowed us to put the project out for tender and accept bids. We have now chosen a contractor and are ready to break ground.”
She admitted the road has not been easy. “Costs and securing funds have seemed like an uphill battle. A lot of great organizations and initiatives are seeking funding, and so grants have been very competitive.”
Despite the challenges, Campbell said the community has shown its determination to see the project through.
“There have been countless ways where the community has come together,” she said. “From volunteering machinery and time to grind stumps, to coming to meetings as a PAC, to giving money and donations for all of our fundraising initiatives, and much more. Some of this has been through students and parents of the school, however it’s very humbling to see how others in the community and surrounding areas have stepped in to help.”
The project has also been buoyed by outside contributions. In the first phase, DGH Engineering supported the project by providing consulting and plans for the drainage on the track. Earlier this year, Stonewall Tim Hortons partnered with WCI through the Smile Cookie campaign, and in summer 2025 the Warren Lions Club provided a $5,000 boost.
The completed track will be a game-changer for both students and residents.
“The new track will allow for our students to stay off the roads, work on pacing, and be safer for physical education classes,” Campbell said. “We also won’t have to travel to Stonewall to practice for track and field, saving time and money.”
Beyond athletics, she said the track will serve the entire community.
“This track and field space will allow better access for people to enjoy free activities,” she said. “Many seniors in town have expressed how valuable a smooth walking track will be for their health and wellbeing. We have also talked with several young families who are out on the town and they feel the future space will be great for family walks, roller blading, and staying active.”
Looking ahead, crews plan to complete the asphalt in spring 2026, followed by landscaping. The ultimate vision is to include a regulation infield for soccer and outdoor games, with the possibility of hosting track meets in the future.
“The end goal is to have a space for people of all ages to enjoy safely, and be proud of,” Campbell said. “It takes a village. We are incredibly grateful for the support we have had so far. We are climbing a mountain, and the top is so close.”
