Finally - after 40 years of blood, sweat and tears, of failed referendums and construction delays, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and the Town of Gibsons officially opened the new Gibsons and Area Community Centre last Saturday.
A standing-room-only crowd packed into the foyer of the centre for the official opening March 29, which featured words of praise and thanks from SCRD board chair Ed Steeves, Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk and Sechelt Mayor Cam Reid, who was on hand to once again thank the SCRD for their collaborative efforts in opening the new aquatic centre in Sechelt last November.
"We have something very much to be proud of. We had a similar opening in November in Sechelt with the pool, and today is part two of opening facilities for the community," Steeves said. "The fact that we're standing here this morning is a testament to the people of the Sunshine Coast who had a vision for a facility that serves the whole community. This wonderful facility exists because of government partnerships and community corporations. There were some challenges in meeting opening deadlines, but when you consider that this 55,000 sq. ft. building included a lot of special features, and you add in the difficulty with finding enough skilled labourers, you begin to understand what a big job this has been."
Steeves acknowledged many community members, businesses and politicians both past and present for helping to build and finance the new facility.
He also thanked the Ministry of Community Services and Regional Power for their contributions towards a new emissions-free Zamboni. The SCRD lobbied with the ministry last year for the new ice-clearing machine, but the funding was turned down. The SCRD continued to lobby and the province changed their minds, recently donating $100,000 towards the purchase of the Zamboni.
"We'll have no carbon in our building at all," said Steeves. "Thank you to both the province and Regional Power for giving us a carbon-free building."
Individuals and businesses contributed a total of $445,359 towards the cost of the $12.3 million centre.
In his remarks, Janyk paid special recognition to the Jackson family who originally donated the land to the Town of Gibsons where the new community centre and Brothers Park now sits.
"The family's legacy lives on and your contributions are appreciated," said Janyk. "This wonderful new facility will be a place to meet and to gather, a place of sharing, a place of culture and a centre of sport and leisure. For each of us this facility will represent something unique - an asset that will shift over time. I want to thank the community and I want to thank the legions of past advocates and the volunteers who never gave up believing in the dream of some day having a community centre of their very own. And I thank the elected representatives and the staff past and current for their tenacity in seeing the job done. It was not an easy task."
In his remarks, Reid recalled the struggles government and the community went through trying to come up with the needed funds to build both facilities.
"As we look around the room today you will see people you know, people you haven't seen before, people who are keen on benefiting from a facility such as this or the aquatic centre in Sechelt," said Reid. "I'd like to thank all of you for supporting the referendum - for having the vision to recognize that we have to work together as one Sunshine Coast to be able to afford the services you citizens really deserve."
The official opening included the unveiling of a plaque that will be displayed in front of the building, a ribbon cutting by area politicians, a figure skating demonstration put on by the Sunshine Coast Skate Club, tours of the facility, dance and fitness demonstrations and information on the many recreation programs available.
"It's absolutely fantastic. I cannot believe how many people came out today - it was exciting to see," said Gibsons and area recreation manager Carleen McDowell. "It's been a long time coming. This centre will be a vibrant hub of activity for many different groups in the community. Now that we're open, I invite everyone to come down and take a look and see what we can do for them, because we have a lot to offer everyone."
