A brand new track has arrived to the North Shore community. The Harry Jerome Oval is officially open.
On Tuesday, the District of West Vancouver celebrated the track opening at the West Vancouver Place for Sport with a ribbon cutting and an inaugural lap around the track.
Mayor and Council were in attendance with guests including Councillor Deborah Baker of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and West Vancouver Schools Board Trustees, and the Place for Sport fundraising committee.
Valerie Jerome, sister of the late Harry Jerome, was also present to mark the occasion and celebrate the opening.
The Harry Jerome Oval was part of a larger initiative to rebuild the West Vancouver Secondary’s track and field facility, which took over a decade. The West Vancouver Place for Sport was opened to the public in December of last year.
The Harry Jerome Oval is ready to provide a safe and high-quality space for students, athletes, clubs, and community members to train, compete, and stay active, the municipality states in a press release.
The six-lane track field was built to world athletics standards using a ‘sandwich system,’ which ensures long-term durability. The system also supplies the track with exceptional shock absorption as well as enhanced performance and reduces the risk of training-induced injuries.
It was announced in 2021 by West Vancouver Schools and the District of West Vancouver that this running track will be named in honor of Harry Jerome, one of Canada’s most legendary track and field athletes lived on the North Shore as a youth.
