Niverville’s CRRC becoming volleyball destination

The Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre (CRRC) will be welcoming the best college volleyball players from across the country for two consecutive years.

The town announced earlier this month the Providence Pilots would be hosting the 2026 Canadian College Athletic Association women’s national championships. The men’s national championships got underway March 5 at the CRRC.

Warren Britton is the town’s director of recreation and wellness. He’s been a busy man the past few weeks, keeping the centre buzzing with events throughout the season.

“It’s been pretty non-stop lately,” Britton said.

“It’s why you build the building. You want it to be full, the parking lot to be full and people enjoying themselves. I think it’s probably busier than we expected it to be.”

The CRRC has become one of the best locations in the province to host volleyball events, with five combined courts in the centre’s fieldhouse and at the attached Niverville High School.

“We’re bringing Manitoba to Niverville,” Britton said, noting when he talks to people in Winnipeg, they’ll often bring up a recent trip to the town.

The building opened in summer of 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-related restrictions on large indoor events means it has taken a few years for the building to fulfill its potential.

“We made the best of it,” Britton said.

“People were just happy to be in the space and be able to participate in sports and physical activity. But being able to be fully open with no restrictions other than the fire code has been really, really good. It’s a different level of excitement.”

Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck said he is a massive volleyball fan and is excited to take in games at the national championships. He won a pair of provincial championships at Steinbach Regional as a high school student.

“The construction of our rec center (CRRC), is a major contributor to driving destination and bringing people from across our Province, and with this championship, from across our country to Niverville,” Dyck said.

“Visitors will stop by our businesses and perhaps one day decide to come and live here. It also promotes other home-buyers and businesses to come to Niverville as they see the growth and excitement that is happening here and we welcome that.”

With construction continuing on a hotel across the road from the CRRC, more high-profile events could be on the way.

“Generally the first thing out of people’s mouths is ‘where are the nearest accommodations?’” Britton said.

“People are generally okay being in a hotel in Winnipeg, but there would be a strong benefit (to staying local), especially for organizers of events… To be able to drive across the highway and hit a pillow rather than having to drive back to Winnipeg or Steinbach would be a nice feature.”

The CCAA national championship match will take place March 8 at 7 p.m.