St. Anne's News
A Field of Our Own
St. Anne’s School marked a defining chapter in its story with the grand opening of Thelma Fielding Park and the unveiling of a turf field that already feels like home. Cygnets clad in red and white filled the stands, families gathered along the rail, and the afternoon’s energy made it clear this space will shape student life, athletics, and community for years to come.
The celebration was kicked off by Aurora Mayor, Tom Mrakas, who welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the collaboration that brought the project to life. He reflected on the significance of the park’s name, which honours Thelma Fielding, Aurora’s first female elected official. “To have her name carried forward here beside a school dedicated to empowering young women feels like a perfect fit. It’s a reminder of the leaders who shaped our past and the young people who will shape our future.”
Head of School, Sabrina D’Angelo, set the tone for the afternoon, calling it a celebration years in the making. “What a privilege it is to welcome you for what I like to call a Triple M event – a major milestone moment. After years of dreaming, planning, and collaborating, we now stand at the beginning of a new chapter for our community.”
Turning to the students, she emphasized that the new field represents more than turf alone. “This is a stage, a training ground, and a place to grow, to compete, to stumble, to rise, and to keep going. It symbolizes your courage, your resilience, your leadership, and it promises that your community will always be here, cheering you on from the sidelines. Go, Cygnets!”
Student voices anchored the celebration as Grade 12 Prefect and athlete, Onna, spoke with energy and pride about what the new turf means for her and her classmates. Looking out at the pristine surface, she captured the spirit of the moment: “For every girl who has ever been told a sport was too aggressive, this field proves otherwise. It proves that strength, skill, and passion have no gender.”
She recalled how quickly the field had taken shape, transforming from bare dirt just a year ago into a facility that will provide endless opportunities for Cygnets. Onna reflected on her own experience joining the flag football team, a sport some still question as being “too aggressive” for girls, and the confidence and success that followed. For her, the new turf represents more than a playing field; it symbolizes progress, a place where girls can train, compete, and lead. She left her peers with a challenge and a promise: that St. Anne’s athletes will not only participate, but will “lead, inspire, and dominate.”
Board Chair, Mark Etherington, reflected on how the day embodied the values that define St. Anne’s. “There’s a power in community. It can make the seemingly impossible possible. Community takes all shapes, and community brings people, enthusiasm, and ideas together that allow us to forge exceptional outcomes, just like this park.”
He noted that while Thelma Fielding Park is a community space for all, it is also now the proud home field of the St. Anne’s Cygnets, a place where students will compete, build resilience, and celebrate victories together. For Mark, the field represents more than new facilities; it reflects the essence of the school itself and the strength of a community continuing to grow right before our eyes.
Haley Jones, a retired professional athlete, gender equity specialist, and leader in sport development for the Town of Aurora, spoke about the broader significance of the new facility. She reminded the audience that across every level, from backyard games to elite competition, “female athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators expand what’s possible, inspiring the next generation, and reminding us that sport is richer when everyone has a chance to participate and excel.”
Haley reflected on her own path in athletics, recalling the challenges of limited opportunities for girls and women in sport. She noted how different today’s landscape is, with girls at St. Anne’s now training in world-class facilities and preparing for opportunities that extend from local competition to the global stage. She pointed to the upcoming debut of flag football and lacrosse at the Olympic Games and Canada’s first WNBA team as reminders of how quickly the sporting world is evolving and how critical it is for schools like St. Anne’s to lead the way. For Haley, Thelma Fielding Park is more than a place to play; it is a space that ensures girls see themselves as leaders in sport, in their community, and far beyond.
The festivities ended with a Red vs. Black flag football game and a surprise moment that brought the grandstand to its feet: the debut of Nova (a temporary name), the school’s new swan mascot. As Sabrina announced, “Nova has been chosen to celebrate this exciting moment, and her name captures bright, powerful, and stellar energy, something that we are feeling in the stands today. And they are qualities that reflect the spirit of our school and our students.”
By day’s end, the significance of the new space was unmistakable. It is a place to train, compete, and belong. As Sabrina reminded the community, “It symbolizes your courage, your resilience, and your leadership.”
Empowering girls to be courageous learners and compassionate citizens who live and lead with wisdom.
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