The Gibsons Area Community Centre Society (GACCS) has unveiled plans for a recreation facility in the town.
Saying the group found the "political process frustrating," society member Gale Woodhouse sketched the history and progress to date of the GACCS at an open house held at Elphinstone Secondary School Feb. 16.
Beginning with an ad hoc group in 2002, the interested parties participated in a community workshop in October of that year. Early in 2003 the group went on a field trip to explore other community centres in municipalities from Hope to the Lower Mainland. Later that year the society was formed, and in April 2004 a local survey was conducted to determine wants and needs.
Members of the largely partisan crowd echoed the group's frustration with the efforts to get a centre built.
Local resident Cy Spencer was applauded loudly when he pointed out Roberts Creek residents had voted against the last referendum for a community centre in Gibsons.
"Do they freeload in on what we've done now," Spencer said.
And while Woodhouse pointed out another referendum will have to be done, it's uncertain right now exactly who will take part in that vote. The centre so far has the support of Gibsons council plus areas E and F of the regional district. Budget costs will ultimately determine who will be asked to vote on the centre.
"Community centres don't come cheap," Woodhouse said.
"We don't care," said local businessman Bob Hoy of Gibsons. "What's it costing us to not have a centre?"
"If we had a facility, we could have people come here. Families have to pay a lot more to go elsewhere," added local community advocate, Cindy Buis.
Hoy agreed.
"Hockey tournaments bring a lot of money to town. This translates into more dollars in the long run," he said.
And Elphi teacher Gayle Neilson summed up the mood of many when she said, "We owe it to the youth of the community to have something for them to do."
The proposed complex would appear to do just that and a lot more.
The proposed facility would cover more than 59,000 sq. ft. Included in the plans are an Olympic-sized ice rink, a youth drop-in centre, a fitness centre, racquetball courts, a seniors' centre, a family centre, meeting rooms and a commercial kitchen.
For his part Spencer just wants the politicians to get on with it.
"They got the land for nothing. What else do they want?" he asked.
For Gibsons mayor Barry Janyk, the process isn't quite that simple. And while Gibsons council is in favour of using the Brothers Park site, the land would need to be rezoned before the complex could be built.
"We want to know what the neighbours think. Due diligence must be done," Janyk said.
Local lawyer Wayne Rowe, who's currently running for the B.C. Liberal nomination on the Sunshine Coast, was optimistic money might be available for community sports facilities from the provincial government as announced in the provincial budget. Rowe said when he came to the Sunshine Coast in 1987, there was a push for a community centre at Gilker Park.
"This is way overdue. Build it and they will come," Rowe said.
And the young people in attendance at the meeting agreed.
Callum Fallis, a six-year-old who attends Cedar Grove Elementary School, spoke for several when he said, "I definitely want it. It think it would be good because it would be fair to everyone."
Callum and his peers are tired of having to travel to Sechelt to be able to skate.
Jennifer McNevin, 12, explained, "A whole bunch of kids talk about it at school. All we can do now is go to the little pool in Gibsons. We want to do more."
Local realtor Ken Sinnott agrees. "It's 10 years overdue. If you want community, you have to have infrastructure," he said.
The society's goal is to have a referendum question for June 2005.
In the meantime, next up for the society is the annual general meeting March 9. If you're interested in joining the society, memberships are available for $5 per family. Email [email protected] for more information.
