In the Sept. 28 edition of the Courier I wrote in this column that members of the Kerrisdale Community Centre's Facilities Renewal Committee aren't happy no money is included in the 2012-2014 capital plan to replace that community's aging centre, ice rink and pool.
I included comments from committee chair Chris Heath and Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»park board chair Aaron Jasper, but didn't have room to include any of the conversation I had with NPA commissioner Ian Robertson. He was quick to point out Kerrisdale is not the only community centre in desperate need of renewal. He says the West Point Grey Community Centre is in worse shape and lacks accessibility for people with wheelchairs and mothers with strollers.
"But whether Kerrisdale deserves it more or not is not in keeping with the big picture," says Robertson. "The bigger challenge is that Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is not keeping up with community centre renewal."
Robertson says Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is fortunate to have 23 community centres, which often act as a source of support and recreation for many residents, including new immigrants and renters. "The community centre is often the first place they go. They're vital to a community."
He adds Vision should rethink its priorities when it comes to spending. Robertson notes many of the city's community centres were built in the 1950s and 1960s and need to be revitalized now. He wants enough funds to replace two community centres included in each capital plan moving forward. "It's a huge issue that hasn't been addressed by Vision Vancouver," says Robertson. "It comes down to priorities and they've been putting other things ahead of community centre renewal."
Robertson says money for community centre replacement could come from a number of sources. One example is $3.5 million needed for the West Point Grey renewal, not included in the capital plan. "But Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»voted to spend $3.2 million for 9,800 new boulevard trees," says Robertson, who is not running for re-election in the November municipal election. "This [Vision Vancouver-dominated] park board] has not made community centre renewal a high enough priority."
CANNING CONTEST
This item has nothing to do with the park board, but I like the idea so much I had to include it here. Tomorrow, Oct. 1, home canners and amateur chefs are invited to submit their pickles for the first round of a B.C.-wide pickle contest. The contest pits pickle-makers from Vancouver, Victoria, Penticton and Haney against each other. Locally, pickles can be dropped off at the Trout Lake Farmers Market this Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pickles will be judged Oct. 3 by a panel of "pickle experts" made up of food writers and chefs. The top eight pickles will move to the semi-final, which takes place Oct. 15 at the Trout Lake Farmers Market.
The winner of the pickle contest receives a trip for two to Montreal, airfare included, dinner at Dunn's Famous Restaurant Deli and pickles for life from Dunn's. For more information, go to dunnsfamousbc.com.
Twitter: @sthomas10
