Victoria Park seniors’ centre in Fergus is a huge success – and that has led to difficulties.
Centre Wellington council, in its committee of the whole on May 25, supported a recommendation from Recreation Director Andy Goldie and the recreation committee to stop renting the facility to most other groups now using it. The move would be effective Jan. 1, which gives current renters time to find alternate facilities
Goldie said in his report, “Over the past several months the Victoria Parks senior centre advisory board has been reviewing its needs for additional space and programming to meet its membership growth.”
He noted the recently approved Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan identifies that the township should continually evaluate opportunities to expand or add dedicated older adult and senior areas to existing community and recreation facilities.
“Currently we are at capacity for senior programming space at the centre based on the current allocation of room time at the centre. In order to grow programs for seniors, without building an addition at the centre at this time, the board and staff feel that senior programs could be expanded if some of the current rental times are discontinued.”
Goldie added, “With this in mind the board [chairman] and Parks and Recreation staff reviewed the existing schedule of rentals at the Victoria Park Senior Centre and other parks and recreation facilities … It is felt the township does have other facilities whereby individuals and-or community groups could rent these facilities in place of the senior centre. This non-rented time at the senior centre could then be used to expand senior programs.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said the facility is swamped, and there are over 675 members using the programs the centre offers.
She said at the start of each month the centre’s Catherine Morgan sends her a calendar outlining the coming events, and, “You can’t find a white space on the paper.”
There will be a few exceptions. Those are:
– the Elora Fergus Unitarian Universal Church, which has been meeting at the centre for about 15 years;
– the Fergus Horticultural Society;
– Fergus Snowmobile Club;
– the New Year’s levee hosted by MPP Ted Arnott;
– the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, which uses the centre for its 10km run during that annual event; and
– others groups, such as the Fergus Legion’s public speaking contest. Those other groups would be considered subject to the approval of the centre’s coordinator and the advisory board.
The board noted that the income from the discontinued fees be offset with a contribution from the board’s annual surplus in the amount of approximately $4,000 to the township’s operating budget of the centre. Goldie said that would mean a win-win for everyone.
Council ratified the decision on June 1.
