HOW IT ALL STARTED

Over 30 years ago, a few individuals met through sports and soon evolved into a group of friends. As time passed, the group expanded as it began organizing sporting activities/events for their families and friends to join them. Everyone enjoyed getting together and it became evident that better organization was necessary to support growth of the group’s activities. Hence, the group Friends Enjoying Sports Together (FEST) was born.

A FEST Executive Committee (FEC) was created to steer and direct the group’s programs and activities. The FEC established a goal, objectives and core principles to grow and support the FEST community.

GOAL

To create a safe and enjoyable community for members, their families and friends so that they can enjoy participating in sports and related events together.

OBJECTIVES

  • Make sports affordable and fun
  • Create a safe, friendly and welcoming environment
  • Improve/maintain health and wellbeing through sports
  • Facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise
  • Create new sports related opportunities.

CORE PRINCIPLES (CRISP)

  • CONTRIBUTION – help make the FEST community better by volunteering your time, expertise or skills whenever you can
  • RESPECT – be mindful of one another’s feelings, accept our differences and most of all treat everyone well
  • IMPROVEMENT – better your sporting skills, social and mental well being
  • SPORTSMANSHIP – play fair, respect your opponents and be gracious in winning and losing.
  • PARTICIPATION – join activities and keep your commitments by showing up.

FEST TODAY

FEST has grown into an active community of friends and their families who enjoy participating in different sports such as golf, tennis, badminton and curling. The community now consists of FEST members and non-member family and friends known as Friends of FEST (FoF) who participate in FEST activities and events.

FEST members volunteer their time and efforts to plan, organize and conduct sporting activities/events for the community. FEST partners with/has arrangements with local sports organizations/facilities to make its programs and activities more affordable and accessible for its members.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership fees help mitigate some of the financial risk undertaken in planning and organizing activities associated with rental of facilities, agreements, social events, etc. These memberships are also available to FoF who wish to join, contribute and help grow the community.