Garden City CC a gem in the community

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This article was published 23/04/2019 (2646 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Garden City Community Centre has had huge successes since its inception in the mid-1960s
Since the opening of its new building on April 6, 2015, Garden City CC has been expanding its programs. With the new hockey arena, approximately 300,000 people visit the community centre each year.

The new building features two new indoor ice rinks, a walking track, and rooms that house seniors programs and rentals. Aside from that, the facility also features the Seven Oaks Soccer Complex, a basketball court, and outdoor ice rinks.

The sports programs encompass most of the Garden City CC’s programs. They offer indoor and outdoor mini soccer and youth soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, rookie rugby, ringette, hockey, and martial arts, and more.

“Community centres were built for the community. The more programs you build, the more they’ll come out, and there’s a need,” general manager Martino Vergata said. “Community centres do serve a purpose, and the more you reach out to the community, the better it is, and you can’t do that without the programs.”

Parents can also ensure their kids are getting active after school with a new program held by KidFit60. Seven Oaks School Division also uses the facility to run its learn-to-skate program. And for those who need to see physiotherapists or a sports doctor, or just want to meet with someone who will help you reach your fitness goals, NRG Athletes Fitness Therapy is just on the second floor of the building.

Most recently, the Garden City CC started offering a Senior Active Living program, which has been popular among local residents.

“Our office manager Margie (Reis) got that going two years back and has done a great job with it. From the numbers I’ve seen, there are 60, 70 people come in, and we have bocce ball, yoga, pickleball,” president Andy Haworth said. “Our seniors don’t want to drive 20, 30 kilometres to go to some activity. It was long overdue that they got it.”

Aside from that, the senior’s program also offers stretch and strengthen classes, line dancing, and zumba.

Although many community centres around Garden City CC are struggling, Garden City has managed to keep growing and keep the doors open all day. Haworth said it’s all due to the board’s commitment, he added they are “the heartbeat,” of their operations.

“If you don’t have 10 or 12 dedicated people that are on the board, it’s all volunteer, and they have a strong drive for the community to excel, and this building here was here for a reason. They want to carry it on, and they want to make it a viable, one of the top community centres in the city, which it is,” he continued.

The board meets every month to discuss and plan for the centre’s future.

“You also have to have visionaries on the board, you can’t just have a static board. We also have a relatively good working relationship with the City’s departments and community services. And that’s really important,” Vergata added.

“I’ve always said at board meetings that we are all in the boat together, we all have to go the same way, and we all roll together, and we will be successful,” Haworth said.