Strait Talk Ep. 59

Community Comes Together to Reopen Renovated Petit de Grat Ballfield

Civic journalist Jake Boudrot was on hand for the Richmond Amateur Baseball Association’s 2025 season opener at the newly renovated Petit de Grat Ballfield, where the Little Anse Hawks faced off against the Petit de Grat Red Caps.

Before the game, Boudrot spoke with members of the Red Caps Baseball Club who—alongside local contractors, companies, and other volunteers—helped carry out extensive upgrades to the ballfield.

Red Caps manager Richard Boudreau shared that the work began in early spring, starting with reinforcing the right-field wall. A gate was then added in the centre field, a new concrete wall poured in the right field, and drainage installed along the third-base line and left field. Volunteers later pitched in to improve the driveway leading to the park.

Boudreau also highlighted community support, noting that several individuals and families from Isle Madame donated toward a brand-new scoreboard.

Speaking about the field’s deep roots in the community, Boudreau explained that the Red Caps are a multi-generational team. Families have been playing baseball on the site since before World War II, making the field a cultural cornerstone of Isle Madame.

Catcher Warren Olsen was one of many who spent significant time at the ballpark during the renovation process. He noted that fellow community members—including Don Fougere, other team members, and local residents—contributed countless hours to the upgrades.

Olsen also gave special thanks to long-time supporters like Barry Marchand, Hubert David, Gerard LeBlanc, and Roy, Rudolph, and Claude Boudreau, who have helped maintain the field for decades.

Importantly, most of the renovation work was carried out by Isle Madame-based companies and contractors—something both Olsen and Boudreau emphasized as a point of pride for the team.

Following the ballfield's successful hosting of the High School Boys Provincial Softball Championship from June 6 to 7, Olsen shared that plans are underway for the field to host both the Under-18 and Intermediate Baseball Provincials.

As with Boudreau, Olsen underscored the ballfield’s importance to the community and to the region as a whole.

Boudrot also spoke with Nova Scotia Energy Minister and Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau, who discussed the role provincial funding played in making the renovations possible. He confirmed that $350,000 in funding was approved through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage just before last fall’s provincial election.

Volunteers credited Boudreau for his role in securing the funding, and he spoke about the importance of ensuring the money early enough to begin work in the spring. He expressed satisfaction with the results, particularly that local professionals carried out most of the upgrades.

Boudreau hinted that a formal ceremony may be held later this summer to celebrate the renovations.

Before the first pitch, a short ceremony recognized all those involved in the upgrades. The Perry family presented a cheque toward the new scoreboard, and John Perry had the honour of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.