Norberry Glenlee centres set for merger

Two St. Vital community centres are anxiously awaiting next spring.

That’s when the Norberry Glenlee Community Centre hopes to start its most recent round of renovations, including a new gym and indoor soccer pitch.

The Norberry and Glenlee Community Centres were amalgamated in June 2006 with the blessings of the community who had pretty much already amalgamated on their own, said Norberry Glenlee Community Centre president Lorelei Andrushuk.

“The centres are so close (in proximity), we’ve shared resources for some time. The kids go to school together, we use both of them often,” said Andrushuk, adding that the centre is a busy place in the winter months.

“Everyone I talk to in the community is anxious and supportive of this.”

Andrushuk notes that with aging facilities, the renovations and expansions will mean increased programming, more affordable programs and, hopefully, an increase in community use as well.

“We know the city is in dire need of some of these facilities (like the indoor soccer fields),” said Andrushuk.

Grant Prairie, third vice-president at the Norberry Glenlee Community Centre, says the renovations will be a huge benefit to the community.

“We’re going to keep both sites. What we’re seeing is community centres that were built in the 1960s. They were built for hockey, baseball and soccer. There are a lot of sports that are becoming popular today and we don’t have the facilities for them,” said Prairie.

“This will enable us to move forward and offer basketball, volleyball, and inline hockey.”

Prairie also adds that the additions will enable the centres to offer more variety of programming for multiple ages such as seniors and young children.

“With the multi-purpose rooms, we’ll be able to offer square dancing, card clubs, bingo...and we’ll have additional rental space for social events. We’ve heard there isn’t enough day-care spaces so we’re looking for a day care to come on board,” said Prairie.

Prairie said the four-phase expansion plans will allow the community centres the opportunity to grow their rentable space and thus increase the revenue flow, which is something centres need for survival these days.

“It’ll make us less reliable on City funding. I think that’s why the City has been so supportive,” said Prairie with a laugh.

The City of Winnipeg, through a community grant, has allotted $1 million for the expansion and renovation plans.

The province, through grants, has added $700,000 but Andrushuk says the challenge out of the $2.2 million project will be fundraising.

The Norberry Glenlee Community Centre services roughly 25,000 people in St. Vital and neighbouring communities.

“It’s an area that went through a demographic shift. We’re seeing a lot more kids coming to the area...a bunch of people saw the benefits of working together and sat down and said we can do a lot if we work together,” said Prairie.