Finlayson Turf Field Renewal 

Finlayson turf re-opened March 31, 2023 with the first ever game on the new field being played by Centaurs and Vantreights as the opening game of Soccerfest 2023. The league will continue to have regular games there on Sundays at noon and 4 PM.

Note: February 28, 2022 update: Field construction is planned to begin March 28, 2022. A more detailed schedule should be available this spring, but project completion is expected by early fall. The project will re-orient the existing field to run north-south, and build a half field along the west side [near Blanshard St] – for youth games and team scrimmages.

Finlayson field was in the news during January 2020, as Victoria City Council considered the latest proposal to renew and reconfigure the existing artificial turf field. One council member advocated that the field be returned to grass, due to concerns about the environmental impacts of turf. As a result, council deferred a making a decision, in order to gather more information. This resulted in considerable input from soccer users, with over 250 emails. See Background Information to read some of the emails.

On January 23, Victoria City Council voted 6-1 to proceed with a new turf field (turned 90° from the present one), along with a mini field on the remainder of the original field. Both fields are to be installed by 2021. There are plans to add a second turf in future. Council was impressed with both the volume and tone of the emails from soccer users.

Artificial Turf Field Replacement Project Area

This diagram is part of a full diagram of
Topaz Park Proposed Projected Park Areas,
created by the City of Victoria. 

See the full (City of Victoria) diagram here

Finlayson turf has been the home field for six SVICSA teams since 2006. Member teams contributed to the planning and financing of the field. Over the past 13 years, soccer users have contributed over $1.2 million to the Field Reserve Fund, intended to renew the turf at the end of its life.

In 2018, the Topaz Park Plan proposed to replace the Topaz sand field with a skate park and bicycle course, and to re-orient and expand the turf field to create two smaller turf fields (still regulation size). This would have continued four fields at Topaz, supporting tournament play.

During 2019, Victoria City Council decided to divert some funds to a proposed turf field at Vic High, and only create one smaller turf field at Topaz now, and a second one later.

On January 16, 2020, city staff took a report to Victoria City Council proposing one full-sized turf field and a mini field on the remainder of the current field. See Topaz Park Improvement Plan Construction Funding (City of Victoria, Committee of the Whole, Jan. 16, 2020).

When the city staff's report was presented to Council, concerns were expressed about environmental issues – mainly end-of-life recycling. Council discussed replacing the turf field with grass, leading to great concern among soccer users over lost capacity, including evening practices and games.

SVICSA presented this report in support of replacing the single Finlayson turf field with two turf fields as in the original Topaz Park Development Plan: Information related to the replacement of the Finlayson turf field in Topaz Park (PDF).

On January 23, Council received information from staff and some 270 submissions from users. After further consideration, it approved the January 16 proposal: 1 full-sized field and 1 mini-field – to be built by 2021.

There remains some public criticism of Council’s choice, and SVICSA continues to track these concerns. Soccer users, including SVICSA, have offered to activate the previous field user group, and help secure funding to complete the turf field project. 

Background Information

City of Victoria's Decision to Proceed with the New Fields

• SVICSA Then President Rick Hoogendoorn announces Victoria City Council's decision: Email to SVICSA Managers and Executive; January 24, 2020 (PDF)  (Note, August 2021: Michael Smith is now the SVICSA President.)
• City of Victoria Media Release: City Invests $8 Million to Revitalize Topaz Park; January 24, 2020 (PDF)

Video Clips of SVICSA Representations to Victoria City Council; January 23, 2020

• Rick Hoogendoorn, SVICSA President (YouTube)
• Peter Denby, SVICSA Development Chair (YouTube)

Communication from Soccer Organizations to Victoria City Council

• Bays United FC (PDF)
• Canadian Soccer Association (PDF)
• Native Indian Football Association (PDF)
• South Vancouver Island Classics' Soccer Association (PDF)
• Vancouver Island Soccer League (PDF)
• Vancouver Island Soccer League, additional email (PDF)

Media Coverage

Times Colonist

• New artificial turf field to be installed at Topaz Park after council votes 6-1 in favour; January 23, 2020, 10:50 am
• Victoria council considers ditching artificial turf at Topaz; sports groups are stunned; January 23, 2020, 6:00 am
• Response to Times Colonist Op-ed on Turf vs. Grass Fields; January 25, 2020 (PDF) 
  This a point-counterpoint response to the Times Colonist Op-ed by Jo-Ann Canning, entitled Comment: Why Fields Shouldn’t Be Covered with Artificial Turf. The counterpoint was written by Hu Wallis (SVICSA) and Dale Sparrow (Bays) but not intended for publication.

CHEK Television

• Turfing the turf field: Victoria city council to vote on whether or not to go with all grass soccer fields at Topaz Park; January 22, 2020

SVICSA Contacts 

• Hu Wallis, Vice President
• Peter Denby, Development Committee