The 2026 season has been saved for the Bayside Secondary School Senior Varsity Football team.
A petition had been posted on the Change.org website by ‘concerned parent’ Mike Gorman last week, encouraging members of the school community and the broader public to sign and encourage the school brass to overturn the decision to shut down the team.
He noted last week that Bayside Administration originally cancelled the season, citing insufficient practice attendance and a lack of players to form a team.
“These claims don’t paint the full picture. We have 28 regular practice attendees and 35 students who have shown their willingness to play,” Gorman stated in the petition.
“Moreover, the decision overlooks the enthusiasm of a female athlete whose offer to join the team was unfortunately dismissed.”
After nearly 900 signatures were collected on the petition and sent to school officials, Bayside administrators updated players and their families to say the team was reinstated for play in the local Bay of Quinte football loop.
“There certainly is strength in numbers,” Gorman stated.
“The support and messaging to the school was loud and clear.”
Gorman says this was a pleasant development, as the school had ‘walked away from any possibility of a season’ only to abruptly change course days later.
He added a meeting will be held with Bayside principal Mike McEwen and parents of players on the team this coming week to determine next steps.
