New owners of Moosomin Sports Excellence
May 25, 2026, 8:35 am
by Ashley Bochek, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Moosomin Sports Excellence has new owners—Kate Thompson and Mike Schoonbaert.
Moosomin Sports Excellence opened in 2023 on South Front Street, full of sporting goods for all sports and age groups within the community.
Thompson and Schoonbaert took possession of the fairly new business two weeks ago and are excited to run the business as new entrepreneurs in Moosomin.
Thompson says the sports store combines their two favourite things. “For the both of us, this would probably be our number one choice in running a business. We’re very excited to get going. We officially took possession last Wednesday, May 13.”
Schoonbaert adds, “Kate will be at the store full-time, six days a week, at least. We’re really excited.”
Thompson says they have had lots of support these past few months with taking over the business.
“It’s very overwhelming. There is a lot to learn, a lot to do, but Khyra Ingram, who has been here for the last nine months, she is amazing. She knows almost everything, so she’s able to show me the ropes, and Tyler Thorn has been great with helping us through the transition.”
“I think we were pleasantly surprised with Khyra because we knew she had a good grip on things, but even more than we thought,” said Schoonbaert.
Thompson says Celebration Ford Owner Tyler Thorn has been a huge help. “Part of our purchase agreement was that Tyler would help us get things sorted, and I really don’t think he will stop helping if we ask questions after. He has been such a huge help for us.”
Interest in owning business
Thompson explains owning a business in Moosomin has been a conversation they’ve had over the years.
“We started looking at owning our own business a bit ago when there was another business in town that came up for sale and we thought about it, then realized it wouldn’t have worked for us, but it got the thought process started.”
Schoonbaert says they noticed an ad earlier this year explaining Sports Excellence was looking for new ownership. “We started talking about owning our own business and having those conversations, but then all of a sudden Kate saw this ad one day.”
“We didn’t really think too seriously about it right off the bat, but we booked an appointment with Community Futures anyway because we had no idea what all it would entail,” he said.
“Before our meeting with Community Futures, I went to show a family member the listing, and it was gone, and I thought it must have sold which wasn’t a big deal, but we decided to keep the appointment because we had discussed it before,” Thompson said. “Then when we met with Community Futures and Leanne said she’d just call Tyler to see what was going on, and it was still for sale. It was a three-month posting, and he just hadn’t re-listed it yet. So we jumped in with two feet at that point and it was a whirlwind couple of months, but it also felt like it took forever.”
They say Moosomin Sports Excellence was the right fit for them.
“It wasn’t necessarily something we knew we always wanted to do, but when a couple of businesses came up for sale in town we realized we would like to run a business, but it had to be the right one,” explained Thompson.
Schoonbaert adds, “It had to work for the both us, and you can’t get much better than this for us.”
Dream business
Thompson says Sports Excellence encompasses their love for sports and running a business.
“I would say it is our dream of owning a business and our passion for sports colliding. It’s exactly what we would have chosen, if we could have picked this.”
Sports driven
Thompson and Schoonbaert say they are both very involved in sports.
”Sports are my passion,” said Thompson. “I love it. All of our kids have been involved in sports, we, ourselves, have been involved in sports, and I think the need for this in Moosomin is so huge, and the potential for it is huge.”
“I also love sports,” says Schoonbaert. “I am home every night watching the Jays game, and playing golf. We go golfing as much as we can together as well. Kate’s still playing ladies fastball, so it’s what we love.”
Thompson adds, “Its what our lives revolve around.”
Announced at chamber meeting
The new owners were announced among community members and business owners at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last Tuesday.
“The chamber meeting helped sink the reality in a bit more, going and being part of that, and seeing the other business owners, and some of those conversations,” said Schoonbaert. “As taxpayers, you don’t see all the conversations at that meeting and see all the people that have a vision for the community long after they’re gone.
“It’s not just working toward today, but the future of our community. They are thinking about the fundraising and things that are 50 years down the road, which was really cool to see and be a part of as new business owners. That was exciting, and just a total different point of view than what you see as a member of the community.”
Sporting goods,footwear and much more
Thompson says the sports store holds all sporting goods ranging from kids to adults.
“You get a little bit of everything here. It’s actually mind-boggling, the amount of stuff that is in here.
“The main draw is the footwear, men’s, ladies, kids, mostly active footwear as well as Red Wing work boots for the mine workers.
“Then, the apparel, and the sporting goods, ranging from your main sports, baseball, hockey, football, and soccer to curling, pickleball, badminton rackets, golf—we sold a set of golf clubs the other day—it ranges from everything. We are also excited to learn if there’s anything else we need, or if there is stuff that we have that doesn’t seem there is a need for. We are very excited to start running the business and meeting our customers. We are ready!”
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