As the Trent community gears up for the excitement of the 2019 World Lacrosse Women’s U19 World Championship, the tournament has received $100,000 from the Government of Ontario’s Sport Hosting Program. This funding will support tournament logistics as the U19 committee transports 22 international teams within the City of Peterborough, hires umpires, and provides other services to athletes and volunteers during the 10-day event taking place in August at Trent University and Fleming College.

The Government of Ontario’s Sport Hosting Program helps bring major sporting events to the province, grow local economies and allows more Ontario athletes to compete at home.

The games run from Aug. 1 to 10, after opening ceremonies on at 6:00 p.m. on July 31. The Canadian and Ontario championships run during the same period, as do festivals for under-15 and under-18 players and a reunion of Team Canada players from 1982 to present.

“Trent University is proud to join with the City of Peterborough and Fleming College as host of the U19 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship,” said Steven Pillar, vice-president of finance and administration at Trent. “As an institution that aims to nurture the talent of individuals from all around the world, Trent is excited to bring this tournament to our campus and our community and play a role in supporting the achievements of today’s youth.”

On Friday June 28, Peterborough MPP Dave Smith presented the grant on behalf of The Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

“When the opportunity presented itself for the Ontario Government to be involved in the World Women's U19 Lacrosse Championships, we recognized that this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only showcase Canada's official game but to also recognize and celebrate Peterborough as arguably the epicentre of lacrosse in Ontario,” MPP Smith says.

The U19 Women’s World Lacrosse Championship is a natural complement to Trent’s outstanding lacrosse program and upholding Peterborough’s reputation as the lacrosse capital of Canada. The Trent Excalibur Women’s Lacrosse team continues to show impressive results as OUA champions, who won gold in 2016 and in bronze in 2018.