THE KERRISDALE COMMUNITY CENTRE OPERATIONS UPDATE
COVID-19 has posed major challenges for the Kerrisdale Community Centre Society and the community centre. Our efforts to provide a variety of programs to our patrons have been hampered by increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in BC and the resulting ever-tightening restrictions. Program revenues have dropped by more than 95% over the past six months. The Board of Directors and community centre staff are working hard to rise to the challenges – we remain optimistic that conditions will improve, including the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, by the end of the winter season.
In-person programming was reactivated in summer 2020 with a variety of outdoor programs and our ever-popular summer day camps. Indoor programming in the fall was well-received; however, the tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in October forced the cancellation of some of these programs.
Refunds or credit for cancelled programs were provided. For the Winter Break and the Winter 2021 session (January – March) the Centre is optimistically offering some 130 programs to accommodate the needs of children, youth, adults and seniors. Check out our Winter brochures and note that all in-person centre programs are subject to restrictions and/or change in accordance with the PHO.
Of particular interest to many patrons are the pool and fitness rooms. The pool is open for swimming lengths and public swimming on a limited basis.
While open only for personal training sessions during the fall, we are working to open the fitness rooms for in-person registration and attendance on a limited basis during the winter season.
As COVID-19 restrictions tightened through fall 2020, the popularity of our new, online artistic and recreational programs has grown steadily. The Society will continue to offer online programs until the Centre is permitted to return to normal operations.
During the winter session, more than 70 programs for adults and children will be offered online by many of Kerrisdale’s favourite instructors.
To see what programs are available online check out our Winter brochures or visit our program/registration page on our website.
SENIORS LUNCH PROGRAM - SUSPENDED
In September 2020 the Kerrisdale Seniors’ Centre lunch service was reactivated.
In order to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, we offered a combination of dine-in lunches (maximum 32 people per seating) and take-out lunches (maximum 50 participants) for seniors over age 55. Unfortunately, September, October and November participation in the combined services averaged less than 30 per day. The Society has committed to continuing this service through December 23rd. However, due to costs and COVID-19 restrictions that preclude the desirable social objectives of the program, the Board of Directors has cancelled this service for the winter 2021 season.
We hope to resume the lunch service in April 2021 or sooner if conditions allow.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY
The Society’s annual general meeting is scheduled for February 17, 2021. The meeting will be held online on the Zoom platform.
The agenda will include:
- approval of the minutes of the last AGM;
- approval of the financial report for the 2019-2020 fiscal year (to August 31, 2020) and appointment of auditors for 2020-2021;
- election of directors;
- matters raised by members.
Log in details for the February 17th, 7:30 pm meeting will be provided on the Society’s website and on social media.
The election of Directors for a two-year term is a critical element of the AGM. Each year 9 positions on the Board of Directors are open for election. If you are a member of the Society and are interested in helping meet the social and recreational needs of residents of the Kerrisdale community you are invited to apply. An application form is available along with information on the Society and the work of the Board of Directors.
PAINTING
While operations of the community centre have more or less come to a standstill due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, maintenance work on the community Centre has been ongoing.
The exterior painting project, now essentially complete, has been a culmination of several months of consultation between the Park Board and the Society’s Building Maintenance Committee. Awaiting completion is the large mural installation to be mounted on the south-east corner of the Centre. This work is expected, weather dependent, to be completed in the spring of 2021.
The second substantial project is the repainting of the Seniors Centre interior which has not been painted since it was constructed in 1986. The City’s painting department working with the Society’s Building Maintenance Committee and Seniors Council representatives selected a new, brighter colour scheme. Work is now underway and should be completed in spring 2021.
GARDEN WEST OF SENIORS CENTRE
The garden directly west of the seniors’ centre patio has been removed by the Park Board to address infestations by both invasive plants and rodents. The intention is to seed the area with grass for a period of time to allow soil recovery before re-planting the garden.
On behalf of the Kerrisdale Community Centre Society, I wish you a quiet but enjoyable holiday season and a healthful 2021.
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Happy Holidays from the KCCS!
On behalf of the Kerrisdale Community Centre Society, I wish you a quiet but enjoyable holiday season and a healthful 2021.
Sincerely,
Robert Lockhart, President
Kerrisdale Community Centre Society (KCCS)