Collingwood Collegiate is hard at work trying to get better sports facilities.

The Collingwood Collegiate Fighting Owls Football Alumni is trying to get a grant from the Aviva Community Fund. They hope to get enough votes from the students and community members to be able to get the $50,000 they need to get new bleachers and a scoreboard.

The deadline for the first round of on-line voting is Oct. 15.

Many sports get played on the field at CCI and this summer the school board replaced the turf; the field is off-limits until next year while the grass establishes itself.

Fighting Owls Football Alumni Executive member Rob Potter submitted an application to try to get funds for new facilities. He said given the use that the field gets from community sports teams, the school and the community would benefit from the new bleachers and scoreboard.

Wayne Hunwicks, the president of the Fighting Owls Football Alumni, has seen many residents and students come and watch the games. By getting bleachers that are permanent, people may stay longer and enjoy the games.

“We knew that the field was up to be restored, so we have been fundraising for several years to purchase bleachers and a permanent scoreboard for CCI to create a stadium-like atmosphere that people will want to come and play” Hunwicks said.

To vote for the football alumni's project, go to <a href="http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13589" target="_new">www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13589</a>. As of Thursday, the project was sitting in seventh spot in the under-$50,000 category.