Regional Recreation Centre

Background

Since the June 8, 2009 announcement of Federal and Provincial funding for the regional recreation centre, a lot of work has taken place behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for the project.  The City of Owen Sound and the Owen Sound Family YMCA have developed a Memorandum of Understanding which guides the partnership between the two organizations.  The MOU was passed unanimously at the August 27, 2009 City Council meeting and the September 13, 2009 Y Board of Directors meeting. 

The project Steering Committee has been established and is meeting on a weekly basis. City representatives include Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners and Councillors Jim McManaman (Chair), David Adair, Bill Twaddle and Tom Pink.  Family Y representatives include Evelyn Dean (Y Board President), Brian Dean (Y Board Vice-President) and Michael Warren (Y Board appointee), Ryan Thompson (Township of Georgian Bluffs), Mayor Francis Richardson (Municipality of Meaford).

The Request for Proposals for the lead architect went out in July. Of the seventeen responses received and reviewed, five companies were interviewed by the Steering Committee on Aug 11.  The architectural firm of Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners was the successful company and they started their work on Aug 14.  Shore Tilbe Irwin Partners have designed facilities across the province, including the Oakville YMCA, Holly Centre in Barrie, the Magna Centre in Newmarket and the Cassie Campbell Centre in Brampton.  The lead architect is D’Arcy Arthurs, with Phil Fenech and Duff Balmer rounding out the team.

The Steering Committee, together with members of City Council, Y Board and volunteers and staff of both organizations, has toured a number of facilities to gather information and ideas.  The Steering Committee has been meeting with the architects to establish a base project program that reflects the intent of the MOU and the funding agreement with the Federal government.  The overall project budget is $32.6 million.

The Request for Proposals for Construction Management was issued in September.  The eleven proposals received are currently being reviewed by the Steering Committee with interviews scheduled for later this week.  The Construction Management firm will be responsible for tendering and constructing all aspects of the project.

The Family Y will lead the fundraising campaign for the new facility.  The Request for Proposals for a capital fundraising campaign went out in July and three companies were interviewed by the Y Board committee.  The successful company was Ketchum Canada Limited.  The lead Consultant is Marilyn Campbell Davis, who is now living full-time in Owen Sound and working out of the Family Y for the coming year.  In addition to Marilyn, other resources from Ketchum Canada Limited include the Campaign Supervisor Karen Willson, Senior Vice President, as well as communication and research specialists.

If you are looking for additional information regarding the ongoing progress of the project, go to the City’s web site at www.owensound.ca

The Steering Committee has hosted public input meetings, facilitated by our architect, Shore Tilbe.  This meetings included our project partners – Georgian Bluffs, Meaford and the Agricultural Society, as well as facility users and the public.

The City and the Family Y would like thank the Township of Georgian Bluffs and the Municipality of Meaford for their ongoing support for the project; the Regional Recreation Facility Task Force for their untiring efforts over the past 10 years; the Better Pool Committee for their motivation and support for the project.

Recreation Centre Page