At the regular District of Clearwater council meeting at the Dutch Lake Community Centre on Tuesday (July 11), Darren Coates, acting representative for Wells Gray Community Forests (WGCFC) Wellness Committee, presented a formal “concept” to mayor and council for a new Clearwater recreation and wellness centre.
Coates outlined the concept in a visual presentation to mayor and council, as well as a few local residents who regularly attend meetings. He referred to a 2019 survey of Clearwater residents that found 20 per cent of area residents felt there was insufficient recreation in the District of Clearwater and surrounding area, with most of those citizens indicating a desire for a community pool.
In 2021 the Community Economic Development Strategy pointed to the need for more affordable living and housing in the area. In the meeting with the District, Coates said “This is only a concept, a wish list if you will. We are merely hoping to start a dialogue with the presentation of this concept and hopefully in the future solicit support from the District and others. The idea of the housing piece was in consideration of attracting and retention of medical professionals in discussions with Interior Health about the possibility of doing something positive for the community, since we have funds available specifically towards health and wellness projects.”
In the summer of 2022, the WGCFC engaged the services of the company Colliers Project Leaders to conduct a feasibility study focused on the potential development of a recreation and wellness centre in Clearwater that could address these recreation and housing needs. Mayor Blackwell questioned the need for such a study as well as the cost, saying “I’m not sure I understand why such a large company would have been employed to do this, especially at considerable expense.”
Blackwell also stated that it’s the responsibility of council to ask the tough questions and that he felt they couldn’t endorse a project at this stage, to which Coates replied “We are mainly interested in a letter of support right now. Nothing is decided or set in stone. It is only conceptual at this point.”
Coates hopes that this will bring about more discussion on how best to use the funds available from WGCFC, which is approximately $8 million, “to do something positive to benefit Clearwater and the residents.”
Following the presentation to the District, Coates told Black Press “It is our hope that through further discussion and partnership with the District of Clearwater and other corporate sponsors that we will see a project involving improved recreational services such as this become a reality. We really hope this will bring about more conversations and ideas.”
Blackwell said he was more than a little concerned about the scope of the project and potential cost estimates to accomplish such an expensive and expansive project. “I have a commitment to taxpayers in our community to ask the tough questions. A huge project like this could cost far more than the estimates this feasibility study is predicting.”
The proposed area that the WGCFC is currently targeting would be adjacent to Clearwater Secondary School and is currently owned by the school district. There is currently no land use agreement established with the school district, but the society feels that there are specific advantages to the location, such as it being close to walking trails, the Sportsplex and the hospital, along with other amenities in that part of Clearwater.
The proposal outlines a number of program areas, which include an aquatic centre, an indoor turf field, a fitness and weight room, an indoor walking track, administration and multi-purpose space, a housing component and a coffee/food counter. The total estimated space that would be required is approximately 58,400 square feet.
During the presentation the District was informed that WGCFC has earmarked funding for capital construction in the district, and a portion of the annual grant program may also be directed to support the operational costs of the facility. However, these amounts will not cover the full capital or operational costs. “With $8 million we can certainly do something beneficial here. We have already had preliminary discussions with Simpcw First Nation and TNRD directors in the North Thompson and interest from corporate supporters.”
According to the study the WGCFC could possibly contribute $4.5 million toward capital costs, with a possible additional $3.5 to $4.5 million, for total contribution of $8 to $9 million for the proposed project, leaving a residual capital balance of approximately $22 to $23 million. The WGCFC would lead a capital campaign to seek donations from local corporations and community stakeholders, and provincial and/or federal grant money would likely be pursued. Projected annual operating costs are estimated in the formal feasibility study at $729,000.
It was suggested by Coates that the WGCFC and the District would need to identify funding sources together in the future if they were in agreement about moving forward in a working partnership. The July 11 presentation was simply to begin the conversation, seeking interest.
“We have to start somewhere. This is mainly a large ‘wish list’ that obviously can be scaled back or considered in phases. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse, and definitely look forward to further discussions to hear others ideas and input.”
