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Community Centre Closures
| Message Board > General Chitchat > Community Centre Closures |
| Lythic Matt User Info... | Yesterday at the FCC all ages committee meeting Shauna brought something to my attention that will seriously hurt the local music scene, not to mention some other (probably more important) aspects of life in Victoria: Of 15 community centres throughout Victoria, the city wants to close 11. They're planning on creating three mega-centres at a cost of 86 million (yeah, million) dollars. Furthermore, they're doing this without consulting the public. Below is a letter that the FCC is sending out explaining their plight, and a list of addresses for the city council. Please do what you can to let them know that this is not what the public wants for our city. For wide distribution... Hi all, Sorry for the wide mailout; however, a quick community response is urgently required in order to give input to City of Victoria Mayor and Councillors regarding the Recreation Renewal Proposal which is going before them Thursday July 8th. Although the name 'Recreation Renewal' has a positive ring to it, the City is actually going to close the Fernwood Community Centre, and most other Community Centres and Neighbourhood Houses in order that they might build three mega hubs under centralized City control. The Fernwood Community Centre board and staff are concerned that there hasn't been adequate community involvement, input, consultation or discussion on this matter, and are requesting a public hearing on this issue; which at a cost of 86 million is three times the budget for the Save On Foods Arena project, yet has had none of the public scrutiny. In our role as a community centre, we strive to provide pro-social recreation and integrated services from pre-natal nutrition and support to parenting programs, child care, youth services, adult drop in sports, computer access, courses, classes and functions to the residents of Fernwood. Therefore we would request that if you value the programs at the Fernwood Community Centre, and the principle of community owned and driven recreation and social services, that you take a moment to e-mail the Mayor and Councillors to demand a public hearing on this issue. In order to track our input as a community, please cc your correspondences to [email protected] Thank you for your ongoing support, The staff and board of Fernwood Community Centre ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mayor Alan Lowe City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0200 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Chris Coleman City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0223 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Rob Fleming City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0216 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Dean Fortin City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0218 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Bea Holland City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0222 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Helen Hughes City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0217 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Pamela Madoff City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0221 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Denise Savoie City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0220 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe City of Victoria #1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 Telephone: (250) 361-0219 Facsimile: (250) 361-0348 Email: [email protected] - Tue, 6 Jul 2004 11:43am | ||
| Livevic Scott User Info... | This is for the municipality for Victoria correct? So the new center they're building at the Burnside-Gorge location is out of their durristiction right? At any rate it dosen't make any sence to have less larger centers spread further arround the city. Are any of the proposed plans available down at City hall, I would like to see exactly what they have planed before I email them just to have a better idea exactly what i'm arguing =) - Tue, 6 Jul 2004 1:17pm | ||
| Nocturna User Info... | Below is the main link to the City's website regarding Rec Renewal. Please be aware that this is a project they highly endorse, and therefore the articles and information provided are written from that stance. Anyone who feels community centres and senior centres play a unique role within their community will want to check it out. Unfortunately there has been less than stellar community awareness about this important topic, which will drastically affect multitudes of city residents. Personally I think "mega hubs" like mega stores will be bad news for our communities. Read on.... http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_recreation.shtml Burnside is one of three community centres that will survive as a neighbourhood house. The others are Oaklands and Fairfield. All others (community and seniors centres) including Fernwood are slated for closure if the proposal passes council. It's time for action! - Tue, 6 Jul 2004 4:46pm | ||
| Demen Ted User Info... | Not Fernwood! - Wed, 7 Jul 2004 10:56am | ||
| Fableway User Info... | a travesty by all means these fat-cats will be hearing from me - Wed, 7 Jul 2004 1:48pm | ||
| Nocturna User Info... | Thanks for your letter Fableway, it was awesome! :) - Wed, 7 Jul 2004 3:30pm | ||
| Livevic Scott User Info... | There's an article about this in todays TC if anyone is interested, it gives a little bit more info about the plans for placement of the new center(s) etc. It seems like a fairly bad idea and for thoes who are interested in gigs and shows Big Fernwood, The Garry Oak Room and James Bay Community Center are all schedualed for "decommission" that coupled with the fact that the Pandora Project hasn't been reciving funding for a while now (as far as I know, I could be wrong?) and that Burnside is talking about maybe not holding gigs anymore if this goes though the AA gig community could be in to loose all its venues in one big swoop depending on the policies of these new "mega centers" if in fact this does go though. - Thu, 8 Jul 2004 1:50pm | ||
| Nocturna User Info... | Well chalk up 10 points for the little guys!!! It seems that City Council in it's wisdom has decided not to pass Recreation Renewal (a year long project for nothing). In fact they have told the Rec Renew team to go back to their drawing boards and seek a way to incoroporate full community inclusion into any upcoming recreation plans. Gee what a concept...ask the public what THEY would like to see for the future of recreation...brilliant! This will hopefully include a indepth look at both social and recreational needs...not just recreation activities. Cheers to all those who took the time to write and express their view. Thanks to the support of countless individuals and the recent media storm, community consultation will be required for any such projects in the future. Well done everyone! We'll probably see some interesting news articles on this topic over the next few days (mehehehheheh). - Thu, 8 Jul 2004 6:57pm | ||
| _Griphin_ User Info... | I dunno if you should panic just yet, apparently this isn't gonna happen for quite a number of years, still, it's a shame it's happening to begin with. Besides which, just because these venues are closing doesn't mean that you can't have all-ages gigs somewhere else. For instance, has anyone looked into the empty Blanschard elementary school auditorium?!? Perhaps you can work something out so that people can have gigs there (it's a licencing thing, really.)? What I'm saying is, don't be so self-defeatest, there's resources out there, use 'em!!! Peace... - Thu, 8 Jul 2004 9:17pm | ||
| Nocturna User Info... | Actually Griph this was a ten year plan with the decomissioning of some centres scheduled to start in 2004. Either way that particular plan is now dead in the water! There's a lot more to community centres than just all ages shows...childcare, parenting programs, recreation programs, support groups, workshops, community festivities...just to name a few. - Thu, 8 Jul 2004 9:48pm | ||
| _Griphin_ User Info... | Exactly, but do a lot of people turn up for these programs?!? It's been ages since I hung around a community center. Blanshard Community actually has an actual drop in center (with a mini grocery store), where kids can hang out and play pool/watch TV. I think it's an awesome idea. I'm currently reading the final report (http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_recreation.shtml) and I tend to agree with what I've read so far. The current plan doesn't take effect until 2006, so I guess that means they'll start shutting down community centers then. Step 2: Building Success 2006-2010 (from the report) states that they will start decommissioning the facilities while focusing on construction of the new centers, this is good because it generates new jobs. But without the existing centers, it lessens the social nature of those communities affected by that closure. But then again, how many people do you know that hang around there local community center? --- LiveVic Scott writes: At any rate it dosen't make any sence to have less larger centers spread further arround the city. But it does cost wise, plus Victoria will be a lot different 20-25 years from now from an age standpoint. Figure it out, how much will it cost to improve the existing facilities?!? City Hall seems to look at projects from a cost standpoint, rather then a citizens standpoint. But what do I know? - Fri, 9 Jul 2004 1:10am | ||
| Lythic Matt User Info... | I'd like to introduce the motion that we celebrate with several bottles of champagne and party hats at the next aa committee meeting. Actually, this "we" thing isn't relevant. I'll be at the next committee with a party hat and a bottle of criss. - Fri, 9 Jul 2004 7:29am | ||
| Nocturna User Info... | Bring an extra glass Matt! Just a "few" more words on the subject... The "final report" landed on the desks of community centres on Wed. morning at 10:00, less than 24 hours before it went to council. Up until 2 days ago all evidence suggested the project was indeed to start in 2004. It was a ten year plan, so yes it wouldn't have happened over night. Many of the items in the "final report" seem to have been adapted after the recent media storm & community response. Such as up until 2 days ago Big Fernwood was slated for decomissioning only...now miraculously a day before it goes to council they have tagged on the end "potential for re-developing into neighbourhood house". Funny as FCC is already a member of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses. Anyone who attended the city ran Rec Renewal open house at FCC a few months back, will see how the plan has changed in the 11th hour, from what has been the closure and decomissioning of 11 faciities to the "potential development of neighbourhood houses". This is a positive twist, but no where does it state we will definitely keep our community centres...just the potential. The brakes on this proposal by council just goes to show you that media attention coupled with the voice of the public can make a difference in the future of our community. All we were asking for was public consultation on the matter, and that's what we achieved. Anyhow the point of this thread was to get informed, so I'm happy to see people have checked it out. However that doesn't mean you should take any propaganda blindly. I still fail to see how one mega centre (Crystal Pool) and three hubs (Fairfield, Burnside & Oaklands) can take the place of almost a dozen facilities, and still provide quality community driven services, especially if the focus is on "recreation" only. After all what is recreation, just a gym, a pool or aerobics classes? Or can it also be community events, children's play groups, senior's luncheons and all ages gigs? I think that should be decided by the people who use the facilities, not a select group of a 12+ people, appointed by the city. I know I may seem overly passionate about this subject, but I have been a volunteer, user of services and employee of a community centre for the past ten years, and know first hand how much these centres provide to the community. - Fri, 9 Jul 2004 7:55am | ||
| Livevic Scott User Info... | Griffen writes: But it does cost wise, plus Victoria will be a lot different 20-25 years from now from an age standpoint. Figure it out, how much will it cost to improve the existing facilities?!? City Hall seems to look at projects from a cost standpoint, rather then a citizens standpoint. But what do I know? I still think the mega centers are a dumb idea, even it it would cost a little more to have the more smaller facilities I think thats what should happen. Each small area of greater victoria is different from the next and having the several smaller centers would mean they can talior their programs and staff to the needs of that smaller area thus serving the people better. IE there's going to be more single mothers in Esquimalt and more seniors in Oak Bay. Then there's the fact that most of the people who DO use community centers are the people who cannot afford cars and transportation is an issue... so why on earth would you make it harder for these people to get to the facilities they want/need. You said it yourself you don't use community centers. Also on your point about why don't you just go out and get another AA venue. Its not QUITE that easy as many of the halls and centers arround the city already have policys against all ages dances and concerts as well as anything with live entertainment that isn't a wedding. I have called arround to every available hall for rent in the city and balanced out cost vs useability and bus route access and there are not many other options besides what is being used. School's will not rent out their space for these kind of activities 99% of the time and when they do the costs are through the roof on them, the only reason we get Burnside School gym is because we don't actually rent it the Burnside Community Association applies to use the room for their "nights alive" program which is a community center program who's goal is to provide entertainment for I think its 15-18 year old kids (who don't usually want to go and hang out for Pool and Movies nights as thats usually dominated buy the 12-14 group, from what I've seen/been told) I don't mean to get on a huge rant but its really nice that the city is actually going to hear some public concern on the issue, I don't challage that its possible things could be run more efficiently I just think that with its something that is a public facility like this it should have public imput into it. I mean christ we have what is it 13 mayors maybe lets look at that as a way to cut down costs I'll bet that will shave WAY more then this projected plan over 30 years. - Fri, 9 Jul 2004 1:36pm | ||
| Shit Fool User Info... | My wife and I have been taking our kids to play group at the Fernwood Community Center on and off for 7 years now. It has been an important part of our lives and the social developement of our children. I have been playing and attending all ages shows there since the mid-eighties also. There is a great sense of community without exclusivity at the "Big Fernwood" which is why is holds a place in my heart. We cannot afford to lose these little community centers. They play too important a role in too many lives. I'm down for the fight....... - Fri, 9 Jul 2004 9:14pm | ||
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