Centre for Active Living and Peace Arch Curling Club project construction moves ahead
White Rock, BC – Construction of the long-anticipated Centre for Active Living and Peace Arch Curling Club will begin this May—with representatives of the funding and operational partners taking the first cracks at demolishing the existing curling club building earlier this week.
The new $6.5 million dollar facility will combine two facilities currently located in Centennial Park: the Peace Arch Curling Club and the Mel Edwards Centre (Centre for Active Living).
“After several years in the discussion and planning stages, we’re very pleased to see this project move into the construction phase,” says Mayor Catherine Ferguson. “It’s a real testament to the power of teamwork and collaboration.”
Substantial funding for the project is being contributed by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of White Rock, the Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation, the White Rock South Surrey Foundation, and the Peace Arch Curling Club. To date, $5.26 million has been committed or received, with $1.24 million still to be raised through donations.
At the heart of the project is a new 15,000 square foot building containing two studios, two fitness rooms and an education room that will be used by The City of White Rock and Fraser Health to offer health, wellness and specialized disease management programs. Three thousand square feet of additional space has also been included that can be developed in the future to accommodate community not-for-profit programming. Rounding out the facility will be a kitchen, locker rooms, washrooms and viewing areas.
Integrated with this building will be a pre-engineered building that will house the curling club’s four sheets of regulation ice (with space for expansion to six rinks).
“This facility will be a place where everyone in the community can improve their health,” says local MP Russ Hiebert. “Our government is proud to help bring it to fruition.”
Provincial MLA Gordon Hogg is also enthusiastic about the new facility’s impact on the community. “This project is about providing opportunities for people to become more active and take tangible steps to improve their health—through education as well as activity,” he says.
“We’re looking forward to offering health care services that complement the goals of the Centre,” says Diane Miller, Executive Director of Primary Health Care for Fraser Health, “This will include integrated prevention and self-management programs for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
The Peace Arch Curling Club will continue to run the curling portion of the facility, and operate as a not-for-profit, providing the sport of curling for the community. They will also manage the kitchen, pro-shop and lounge. “Our members are very much looking forward to the upcoming curling season and the improved facilities,” says Peace Arch Curling Club President Darrell Zbeetnoff. “We’re anticipating we’ll be able to be on the ice by fall.”
The demolition of the existing curling club building is expected to take three weeks. Construction of the new buildings is anticipated to last 33 weeks and be substantially complete by the end of October, 2010.
The Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation is spearheading the additional fundraising efforts through its Partners in Caring Campaign. A variety of service clubs and organizations have already stepped forward with significant donations, including the White Rock South Surrey Community Foundation, the RBC Foundation and the White Rock Rotary Club.
“The development of the Centre for Active Living has very much been a collaborative effort to date,” says Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation Chair Dragana Sanderson. “Now we’re approaching the broader community to come on board and help us complete our fundraising efforts.”
Individuals or groups wishing to make a donation to the project should contact Jackie Smith, Executive Director, Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation at 604.535.4520 or visit www.peacearchhospital.com.
