It’s a happy scene, if a little ironic. You see, both girls’ parents are from the Philippines — in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with miles and miles of beaches — yet this wave pool is their kids’ first experience of the tidal surf. And they aren’t alone. In landlocked Calgary, the wave pool is the closest thing there is to the real deal.

“It’s great to have a facility like Village Square around, it gives the kids the opportunity to have fun and experience going to the beach like we did when I was a kid,” says Nicole’s mother, Guadalupe.
“In many ways, having this kind of amenity nearby is a lot better than the beach,” says Meeka’s mom, Lilian, a local realtor. “It’s safe, it’s clean and really affordable. It’s one of the first things clients ask me … if there’s one nearby.”

Coping with demand
Calgary’s surging population, however, has put considerable stress on the existing eight major recreation and leisure centres the city has. There is a distinct need for more such amenities, and the community has responded. Not only are there numerous ongoing projects to renovate existing facilities, but also entirely new leisure and recreation centres are being built in the city to meet the demands of a growing population. Among these is the $125 million Genesis Centre of Community Wellness in the northeast, which broke ground in June and will be completed in 2011.

Another is a future recreation centre in the northwest quadrant where plans are well underway with financing already arranged and at least 100 acres already allotted to the facility. “There has been a need in the northwest for many years for a recreation centre, and it finally looks like we’ll get our wish soon,” says Sandor Kiss of the Calgary Northwest Recreation Society, which has been working for years to bring the project to fruition.

He points out that the northwest has grown spectacularly over the years with new communities like Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak and Tuscany blooming in quick succession — and the Crowfoot YMCA facility struggling to meet the increasing demand. Now, The City has committed $70 million for the project that is estimated to cost upwards of $120 million and the society is looking for partners to make sure that the northwest recreation centre will be a sustainable project.

The northeast sector has been struggling with the same situation, with Village Square Leisure Centre — for many years — coping as the premier recreation facility in the area, which had grown to become home to a population base roughly the size of Red Deer. Now, much needed respite is finally in sight by way of the Genesis Centre of Community Wellness.

The City has already committed a similar $70 million toward the project, with other levels of government to put in $30 million, and the YMCA will provide another $10 million.

It’s expected to service 150,000 people by the time all the areas in the northeast are built-out — several of which are Genesis-developed communities.

Another $5 million will be raised through Genesis and their business partners, says Gobi Singh, CEO of Genesis Land Development Corp., who has fully backed the project from the start. “I believe this is the largest contribution made by a business involved in residential construction in the city for such a facility,” he says.

Partnering with public, private sectors
The Genesis Centre is just the latest example of the successful partnership among the local and provincial government, the public (represented by community associations), and local businesses. Cardel Place in north central Calgary and Talisman Centre just outside downtown enjoy this kind of relationship as well. Recently, Trico Homes has partnered with the former Family Leisure Centre in the south to create the Trico Wellness Centre, which is also undergoing extensive renovations to the 26-year-old facility.

“Trico came on-board as our naming sponsor in October last year, and it is a very positive relationship that we hope will continue to grow,” says Mona Hennenfent, marketing director at the Trico Centre, which has 25 surrounding community associations under its umbrella.

She says the renovations at the facility, which boasts the biggest seniors membership in the city, will put in a fitness centre and a second arena to help them cope with the growing demand.

Also undergoing a total revamp is the Westside Recreation Centre in the southwestern edge of the city. The $30 million expansion will add 65,000 square-feet of space that will focus on youth-oriented activities. The facility had been besieged by the increased demand and, sadly, actually had to turn away some 6,000 kids from various programs last year.

“Expansion will make sure this does not happen again,” says Westside’s Norma Jean Hogg, adding that their youth-centric focus is what their area — bursting at the seams with young families — needs. “We noticed that there was a lack in recreational opportunities for teenagers and these renovations will address this particular need,” she says. “Kids can come here after school and hang out in a healthy environment that encourages physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.”

She says special emphasis is given to non-organized sports. “Not everyone wants to become a professional hockey player or an Olympian swimmer, so we provide the environment kids need to just play and encourage physical and mental activities without putting them through a rigorous regimen.”

Healthy and wholesome
Cardel Place in the Coventry Hills area has done the same thing since it opened its doors in 2004. Created through a naming partnership with Cardel Homes, the 195,000-square -foot facility is an integral part of the community; evolving into the unofficial cultural, social and athletic hub of the north-central area.

Like most of the new rec centres, it combines recreation and leisure pursuits with a public library, sports medicine clinic, café, aquatics centre, a rock-climbing wall, two NHL sized arenas, a fitness centre and three gymnasiums. They are also in the midst of a facelift that will put the “style” in their lifestyle focus.

“We are adding some colour to the interior and also expanding our fitness centre to meet the increasing demand and put in more exercise equipment,” says Cardel Place business services manager, Tracy Martin. “But our overall holistic approach is programs that take into account all aspects of improving your lifestyle, mentally, physically and spiritually.”

The two City-subsidized leisure centres, Village Square in the northeast and Southland in the southwest, have also recently completed major renovations to their facilities to adapt with Calgary’s youth-quake. Combined, the two facilities — both constructed in 1983 — serve an average annual attendance of 3.5 million people. “It was high time that we upgraded our facilities, and we are really happy with the outcome,” says Tracy Luther, The City’s marketing advisor for both centres.

The water parks at both centres are touted to be the biggest in Calgary, and include the new tropical-themed AquaPlay structure and steam room in Southland and the Safari Splash Zone AquaPlay structure and super-sized hot tub in Village Square.

“It’s important for the city to operate leisure centres, as we provide a service to a segment of society that are low income, new to Calgary, and the disabled,” Luther adds. “Our pre-school programs are huge.”
Their wave pools are still their top attraction, however, symbolizing the crashing surf of Calgary’s growing youth population — which with keen foresight and crucial community and corporate contributions — now have several opportunities for family-oriented, health-centric play. NL

Splash Down!
Get into the swim at Calgary’s outdoor pools

Calgary has eight outdoor pools – seven of them are run by the Calgary Outdoor Swimming Pool Association. COSPA is a non-profit organization that was formed after public outcry arose from The City’s planned closure of four outdoor pools in 2003. They have a 15 year agreement with The City to run its outdoor pools program. Calgary’s outdoor pools open from mid-June until the Labour Day long weekend. Pools offer public swim times and a variety of water-based activities from aquacise to deep water running. Complete swim instruction is also offered, from Preschool Aquatics, Red Cross Water Safety and Royal Life Saving Society programs, to diving and synchronized swimming. Hours of operation vary by location and are set under the direction of the contract operator.

Outdoor pool list:
Bowview Outdoor Pool – 1910 6 Ave. N.W.
Forest Lawn Outdoor Pool – 1706 39 St. S.E.
Highwood Outdoor Pool – 25 Holmwood Ave. N.W.
Millican-Ogden Outdoor Pool – 69 Ave. and 20A St. S.E.
Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool – 2310 6 St. N.W.
Riley Park – 814 10 St. N.W.
Silver Springs Outdoor Pool (non-COSA) – Silverridge Cl. And Silverridge Dr. N.W.
South Calgary Outdoor Pool – 3130 16 St. S.W.
Stanley Park Outdoor Pool – 4011 1A St. S.W.

For more information visit http://www.calgaryoutdoorpools.ca