Recreation complex may replace fitness centre

In a letter to the Recreation Facility project committee, “We expressed both support and issues regarding the fitness centre and its relationship with Queens Place,” said Queens Fitness Centre Committee member, Dave Winaut. “They proposed options to use and one was probably to the effect that the Queens Fitness Centre would move and lease space at a rate set by them.”

Moving into the new recreation facility was not a good option for a number of reasons, stated Winaut.

One reason being, it would be a big operation.

Secondly, the Queens Fitness Centre Committee believes that any or all of the units within Queens Place should be part of a comprehensive membership, he continued.

Winaut said in order for the Queens Fitness Centre to afford to lease in the new facility they would have to increase fees, dues and membership very considerably just to meet basic expenses.

Being a non-profit organization, he added they are in no position to swallow a debt.

“Queens Fitness Centre representatives came to the committee last week and they are urged in the Region of Queens to make provision for the fitness centre within the new Queens Place complex,” said Mayor John Leefe. “And that it should be run by part of the complex and managed by Queens Place management directly and not by the volunteer organization.

“We are very supportive of the concept of a fitness centre and we think it’s a vital service to the community,” said Winaut.

The mayor said the Queens Fitness Centre Committee has expressed complete interest in providing volunteer support when the time comes.

If the Queens Fitness Centre does shut down, memberships would be “transferred,” said Winaut.

“We made it clear to the committee that affordability is an important issue,” he added.

They have opted to shut down if a new fitness centre were to open in the new facility because they will not compete in a parallel service, he stated.

“Our position is we want to work with the Region of Queens and hopefully I think we’re sharing the same goals,” he said. “I like to think of the Queens Place as not the objective but the service as the objective.”

There are some advantages to a new fitness centre, he added.

One being more square footage and flexible hours of operation as they are “somewhat constrained at the South Queens Junior High School,” explained Winaut.

The new recreation facility is set to house a 900 seat NHS size arena, walking track, 25 metre pool with four lanes, a therapeutic pool, fitness centre and community room.

Site preparation has begun.

Although discussions are in the works, Winaut cautioned nothing is final until Queens Place is up and operating.