Glenwood keeps on growing

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2019 (2389 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Glenwood Community Centre has grown with the neighbourhood. 

The centre, located at 27 Overton St., runs a number programs for community members, including hockey, ringette, baseball, and softball — which are all now centrally registered. As well, there are fitness and family-focused programs, such as yoga, the Kids in Kilts School of Highland Dance, and the Fit 4 Two Mom and Baby Bootcamp, as well as activities aimed at seniors, including badminton, social bridge and a woodcarving club. 

President Shawn Fraser said the shell of the centre’s original arena was built in 1974, and the centre’s main building was added in 1999. The current ice plant was installed in 2001. Before that, the arena was natural ice. 

“I think our rink is kind of unique,” said Fraser, who also has a long history of coaching in the community. “It’s certainly not cookie cutter.”

Fraser said the centre has formed an important partnership with Glenwood School — which is located right next to the facility — through the years, including developing a learn-to-skate program for Grade 1 to 6 students, and a hockey training program with the school and Hockey Manitoba. 

The centre garners a certain portion of its income from rentals, which includes volleyball, dodgeball, and ball hockey leagues. Hall rentals for events such as socials also provide a revenue stream.

Fraser said organizers at Glenwood also feel it’s important to help support local programs and organizations, not least when it comes to helping get them established.  

Our Communities | Newsletter

Community Calendar

Mondays

A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities.

Sign up for Community Calendar

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“We like to help get programs started, so we’re flexible with them, and we give them good rates to help them get going, such Kids in Kilts, which took time to get established,” he said. 

The changing makeup of the surrounding community can make it a challenge, at times, when it comes to reaching out to area residents or knowing what new programming to offer.

“At times, it can be a struggle with offering to the immediate community,” Fraser said. “Just getting the word out and letting people know what’s out there can be difficult. But a lot of us have been around here for quite a while, so we all tend to be on the same page, and everyone is doing this for the best of the community,” he said. “There’s a change going on at the moment, and from the perspective of the board, we’re here to help community members have access to sports and serve the needs of area residents, in keeping with the mission statement on our website.”

Coralie Charbonneau, the facility administrator at Glenwood, believes organizers at the centre have hit the right notes when it comes to serving the community.

“I think we’ve done a good job,” Charbonneau said. “We continue to work hard to try and help families in the community, and provide what’s needed in the community at the time.” 

Simon Fuller
Community Journalist

Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at simon.fuller@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7111.

   Read full biography