Page 7 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 135

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #135 April 2024 7

Continued from page 1 collects the funds, orders medals, the tourism tax paid by the hotels restaurant and hotels.”

10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at St. Joe’s talks to the press, gets donations in Cornwall goes into a fund that He adds, “We do very well in
Gym from businesses and the community, Tourism Cornwall gives back to the Cornwall, and we managed to get
Perley Lewis has been the orders the medals, etc. He says, “I organizations that apply for a grant the price of the tournament down
basketball manager, and assistant- want to make sure that at the end of to help them organize events. comparatively to other towns.
manager for the past ten years and the tournament, coaches, players, To obtain the grant, organizations We also guarantee them 4 games
has been coaching Matt, his son’s and parents tell me they enjoyed it, must submit a detailed expense which is very much appreciated,
team, since then. Matt started to and they want to come back next budget and if it is approved, these they get more bang for the buck.
play basketball when he was five, year.” funds can help support the teams I try to make sure everything is
and he now plays the point guard In addition to managing the and the tournaments. perfect, and everybody has fun. It
position in the team. Perley said, team, Perley works very hard at Perly says that tournaments, such is a reflection, not only on myself,
“The Cornwall Lions started as a getting the community involved as the one taking place this month, but on the whole community. If
single A team, and we were winning and getting vital sponsorship. He is are important for the community - we have money left at the end, the
by 20 -30 points, so I moved this up very grateful to Cornwall Tourism “Because we are bringing in a lot of money goes back to CUCBA, the
to AA. We played against Kanata which sponsors the tournament, money in the community. Probably Cornwall United County Basketball
in November, and we won the Upper Canada Mortgage, Spinners most of the visitors will spend the Association, to buy uniforms,
tournament there and then, last Diner, and local businesses such as night in Cornwall and if we get basketballs, and things the kids
weekend, I moved them to AAA Dairy Queen which offers Blizzards around 300 players + coaches + need.” Perley realizes that it is very
Division 1, we won 2 and lost 2. for the players. He also designed a grandparents + brothers and sisters, intense, but he feels that the reward
The team improved over the year.” metal custom water bottle for the you may have around 450 people for the community is worth it.
Perley Lewis has incredible winners of the Sunday playoffs. staying in our town hotels and eating Cornwall will host playoffs on
organizational skills: he runs the It is also important to mention in Cornwall restaurants. That’s why the May 10-11-12 weekend, and
whole thing by himself, sends that they received a grant from the business community is willing the Lion’s last tournament will
invitations to the teams, takes Cornwall Tourism in support of to help us because we bring a lot take place in Potsdam on the first
care of referees and scorekeepers, their tournament. He explains that of people in town, who support our weekend in June.