HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-003-16 1.0
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Community Services
Report
If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal
Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102.
Report To: General Purpose and Administration Committee
Date of Meeting: February 16, 2016
Report Number: CSD-003-16 Resolution: (. - c'; .
File Number: N/A By-law Number: t
Report Subject: Community Services — 2015 Year End Review
Recommendations:
1. That Report CSD-003-15 be received for information.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 2
Report Overview
The Community Services Department is responsible for planning, implementing
and evaluating municipal recreation, leisure programs and facilities. This report
provides Council with an overview of the activities associated with the
Department's Recreation Services and Facilities Divisions during 2015.
1 . Recreation Services Division
1.1 There are many opportunities to participate in recreation activities in Clarington
through a wide range of programs and services offered directly by the
Municipality for residents of all ages. In addition, the number of volunteer and
not-for-profit community organizations that provided valued and needed
programming, activities and events continued to expand in 2015.
1.2 This section provides a snapshot of the activities offered throughout the year
directly by the Recreation Services Division as well as provide an update on
Community Development activities.
2. Aquatic Section
2.1 The Municipality operates three indoor aquatic facilities (Alan Strike Aquatic and
Squash Centre, Courtice Community Complex and Newcastle & District
Recreation Complex.) These facilities operate seven days a week and offer a
wide variety of both recreational swimming and aquatic instructional programs for
the community. In addition, during the summer months there is also a seasonal
outdoor pool (Orono Park Pool) which operates daily for recreational swimming.
2.2 After a 14 month renovation, the newly named Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash
Centre (ASC) re-opened its doors on August 31, 2015.
2.3 As a result of the re-opening of the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre and
our continuing expansion of programs, 41 new aquatic staff were hired between
August and December 2015.
2.4 In addition to their numerous qualifications, new hires undergo extensive training
(approximately 25 hours) at all indoor facilities prior to working their first shift.
Staff are required to attend on-going training every three months. Pre-summer
training includes an annual Lifeguard Competition, where staff are placed in
teams and compete through various events, giving them an opportunity to
showcase their lifeguarding and first aid skills. This past summer, Clarington
hosted a Durham Invitational Lifeguard Competition, with participation from City
of Oshawa, and the Cobourg YMCA.
2.5 While only part-time, these positions offer students valuable experience in areas
of customer service, working with the public, and dealing with difficult situations,
including first aid and aquatic emergencies.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 3
2.6 Instructional Aquatic Programs
Community Services currently offers 74.5 hours of aquatic instructional
programming each week between our three indoor pools, as well as end of
session leadership programs (25-40 hours). The Department offers a large
variety of programming, including preschool/youth/adult swimming lessons,
private and semi-private swimming lessons, lifesaving, leadership, first aid and
aquafit.
In 2015, 7,953 individuals participated in aquatic instructional programs.
With the re-opening of the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre,
enhancements included the addition of Thursday evening lessons, and a full
spectrum of aquatic programs which are showing an increase in registrations.
Aquatic Program Participant Statistics
Pool 2013 2014 2015
314
7
Alan Strike Aquatic and g72 Closed 217 June
Squash Centre 2014 Re-opened for
fall session only
Courtice Community
Complex 3,125 3,087 3,296
Newcastle & District 3,599 4,027 4,343
Recreation Complex
Total Number of Users 7,396 7,331 7,953
2.7 Recreational Swimming
The Department offers a wide variety of recreational swims at its indoor facilities,
including Adult, Lane, Adult/Lane, Public, and Public/Lane. Combined at all three
indoor facilities, the Municipality offers an average of 109 hours of swims per
week.
With the re-opening of the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, staff
enhanced and expanded programming, based on feedback received from user
groups, individuals and surveys. This included the addition of weekend morning
adult/lane swims on Saturday and Sunday, the addition of a Sunday morning
public swim, an earlier Saturday public swim, and revised Sunday scheduling to
permit leadership courses and swim meets. The new schedule has been very
well received, and facility users have commented numerous times that they are
pleased with recent changes and additional swims.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 4
Recreational swimming remains a popular activity for all ages. In 2015, over
95,000 people visited a pool in Clarington for recreational swimming. While
usage fluctuates year to year, and pool to pool, 2015 shows an increase in visits.
During the same time period that Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre was
under renovations, so too was the Jack Burger Sports Complex pool (Port Hope).
Clarington, in particular Newcastle & District Recreation Complex, did see an
increase in Port Hope residents swimming and using other amenities.
Recreational Swimming Participant Statistics
Pool 2013 2014 2015
Alan Strike Aquatic and 6,363 4,964
Squash Centre 12,891 Closed in June Re-opened
2014 August 31, 2015
Courtice Community 33,580 32,593 31,845
Complex
Newcastle & District 45,547 49,623 53,719
Recreation Complex
Orono Park Pool 4,481 3,683 4,509
Total Number of Users 96,499 92,262 95,037
2.8 School Board Swimming Lessons
Since September 1997, the Community Services Department has offered a
customized program for the Boards of Education within Clarington.
The Municipality reserves one-hour time periods from mid-September to mid-
June for school use. These time periods are programmed during the slower
daytime hours, primarily afternoons.
Participating schools designate swimming for certain grades, typically grades 3
and 4. The 2014-2015 school year saw four local schools participate, serving a
total of 283 children. This was a decrease in participation compared to 2014,
which was a reflection of the closure of the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash
Centre for renovations. Many schools that booked lessons at that facility opted to
defer until the re-opening of the pool. This was due to some schools being within
walking distance (which reduces their cost per child), not being able to access
morning times that traditionally are available at that facility, and increased driving
distance which effected dismissal times in the afternoons. Staff anticipate with
the re-opening of the facility, schools who previously booked, will return.
Partnerships such as this target residents who may not normally be reached
through municipal swimming lessons due to shift work, irregular schedules or
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 5
financial limitations not allowing families to attend evening and weekend classes.
This program increases children's exposure to water safety education and
lifesaving skills.
3. Fitness Section
3.1 The Community Services Department is pleased to offer fitness programs and
activities at various municipal recreation facilities. The main fitness facility in
Clarington is located within the Courtice Community Complex. The Courtice
Fitness Training Facility is a fully functional fitness and training facility. Satellite
programs are also offered at the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex, Alan
Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre, South Courtice Arena, Garnet B. Rickard
Recreation Complex and Bowmanville Indoor Soccer facility. These fitness
programs and activities are conducted by 12 certified Fitness Trainers and 20
certified Fitness Instructors.
3.2 Courtice Fitness Training Facility
This facility is open weekdays, 6:00 AM-10:00 PM and weekends 8:00 AM-9:00
PM. The Courtice Fitness Training Facility has a large fitness training floor with a
variety of cardio and strength equipment as well as a separate group fitness
studio where we offer programs such as Spinning, Yoga and Zumba, among
others. We offer one-on-one and small group personal training with certified
personal trainers.
3.3 Newcastle & District Recreation Complex
Group fitness classes are offered at the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex
most weekday mornings, some evenings and Saturdays throughout the year.
The group fitness program is available to members, registered participants and
drop-ins. We are pleased to offer a range of programming to suit a variety of
fitness needs. The fitness division continues to see an increased demand for
additional class time and variety of class types from the surrounding
neighborhoods.
3.4 Active Living Memberships
The Fitness Membership model that we introduced in September 2014 continues
to provide various membership types and terms so that all Clarington residents
can have access to suitable Active Living membership options. The re-
introduction of the Squash membership (due to the re-opening of the Alan Strike
Aquatic and Squash Centre) was well received with over 93 squash players
signing up for the fall 2015 session. 2015 also saw the introduction of a new
membership option. The Run Club Membership gives patrons access to all of the
Fitness Training Centre amenities as well as access to all of the Municipality of
Clarington's Run Club Programs throughout the patron's membership term.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 6
3.5 Group Fitness Programs
In fall 2015 with the re-opening of the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre the
fitness division added approximately 10 hours of active living classes per week.
The classes were targeted to teachers and individuals who spend their days
living and working in Bowmanville.
As a result of construction activities, the fitness division relocated approximately
85% of our current Courtice Community Complex group fitness classes to the
Courtice Library Branch (Great Room) and the South Courtice Arena (Upper
Viewing Gallery). The patrons are currently attending classes at the satellite
locations in anticipation of the completed renovations in the spring of 2016.
3.6 Membership Retention and Incentives
Membership retention is tracked through our recreation software and hourly head
counts that are invaluable to managing our peak times and equipment usage
records.
The Fitness Division offers programs throughout the year to keep members
accountable for their own fitness and encourage membership retention.
"Club 150" is a tracking program that monitors how often a member utilizes the
Fitness Centre or attends one of the fitness classes at each facility. 2015 had
over 150 people participate, our highest enrollment since the program's inception
five years ago.
Current Fitness Centre members receive a reminder letter a month prior to their
membership expiration date. This letter serves as a reminder to renew and offers
a one month extension on the purchase of a Fitness (Plus) Annual membership.
3.7 Grade 5 Action Pass
The Municipality of Clarington has been a partner in the Durham Region Grade 5
Action Pass program, which was introduced in 2008 to all grade 5 students in
Durham Region. The pass provides free drop-in access to students for public
swimming, skating and drop-in basketball, and runs October 1St of the year the
student is in grade 5 until August 31St of the following year.
This pass was introduced to address the growing concern over the number of
sedentary, obese children in our society.
We continue to see a consistent uptake of this opportunity.
Number of Grade 5 Action Passes Activated
2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016
415 400 306 303 442
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 7
4. Recreation Programming Section
4.1 The Community Services Department offers recreation programs and camps at
various municipal recreation facilities, local schools and park locations throughout
Clarington. The recreation programs service all age groups. Residents have
options for registered programs, weekly drop-ins, pay-as-you-play and free
programs.
4.2 The recreation section employs 98 part-time recreation staff annually. The staff
team is primarily made up of high school, college and university students. All
recreation staff take part in seasonal training, including health and safety,
WHMIS, customer service, leadership development, program planning,
accessibility and many other topics.
4.3 Many of the employees within the recreation section are first time job seekers.
The Municipality has the opportunity to assist these young adults in gaining and
developing life skills that will benefit them for years to come.
4.4 Summer Camps
For a number of years, the Community Services Department has offered summer
camp programs to our residents. These camps serve a wide range of children
and youth from 4 - 16 years of age. In 2015, there were a variety of camp
opportunities including; Leadership Camp, Counsellor in Training, Trip Camp,
Sports Camp, Road Hockey Camp, Kinder Camp, Arts Camp, Eco Camp, Junior
Chef Camp, French Camp, Dodgeball Camp, Soccer Camp, Lacrosse Camp,
Hockey Camp and Outdoor Adventure Camp.
Total Carnp Registrations
(including extended care registrations)
2012
2013
)015
o 500 1000 1500 2000 )500 3000
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 8
Camp programs continue to accommodate as many individuals in the
Municipality as possible and the Department continues to revise and improve the
camp program each year, achieving the underlying goal of providing quality
programs at a reasonable fee.
In the summer of 2015, Community Services employed a total of 38 students as
camp supervisors and counsellors. They brought a wide range of knowledge,
experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the team. All staff received over 40
hours of pre-camp training in areas such as leadership development, team
building, recognizing child abuse, customer service, program planning, behaviour
management, conflict resolution, risk management and administrative
responsibilities. They were also required to be certified in the High 5 Principles of
Healthy Child Development, Standard First Aid and CPR "C" as well as providing
an acceptable Criminal Background Check.
Community Services partnered with the YMCA Early Years staff to continue in
delivering a comprehensive Mobile Playground program to the community each
week of the summer. YMCA Early Years and Community Services each
committed one van and two staff. The Community Services staff delivered
playground programs for children 6 to 12 years of age. The YMCA staff provided
games and activities for children 0 to 6 years of age. The drop-in style programs
offered a less structured option to our day camps for participants and caregivers.
The two "Funmobiles" each visited different locations every day and delivered
games, activities and crafts appropriate to the participants. No pre-registration is
required and often parents/caregivers would come to the park and socialize as
their children participated. The Mobile Playgrounds rotated through many
different parks weekly during the summer which included: Tyrone Park, Orono
Park, Pearce Farm Park, Rosswell Park, Ina Brown Parkette, Solina Park,
Haydon Hall, Harry Gay Park, Bons Park, Port Darlington East Beach Park,
Avondale Park, Argent Park, Wallbridge Park, Westside Park and Memorial Park.
Attendance at most Mobile Playground locations was very positive, with over
2,000 people visiting the playgrounds throughout the summer.
4.5 Public Skatinq
In 2015, Community Services had over 12,000 participants attend our public
skating programs throughout the Municipality.
Public Skating Numbers by Year and Facility
Facility 2013 2014 2015
South Courtice Arena 6,500 6,737 6,752
Garnet B. Rickard Complex 3,244 4,131 3,460
Darlington Sports Centre 1,475 1,793 1,886
Total 11,219 12,661 12,098
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 9
4.6 Summer Job Subsidy Program
The Summer Jobs Service is a student job subsidy program created by the
Province of Ontario and is facilitated in Durham Region through the John Howard
Society. This is the tenth year that the Community Services Department has
facilitated the program on behalf of the Municipality. The program provides up to
a $2.00 per hour wage subsidy to employers who employ students for the
summer. This program is designed to help eligible youth prepare for
employment, gain employment experience and stay in school. The Summer
Jobs Service program is targeted to students aged 15 to 24 years (up to 29 for a
person with a disability) who are currently attending school and plan to return to
school in the fall. It should be noted that eligibility does not guarantee the
employer will receive $2.00 per hour per student as the total funds are distributed
by formula to the participating employers.
The 2015 subsidy that the Municipality received was $14,103.16. Municipal
departments do not budget for this revenue as the program is not guaranteed
from year to year. The funds are recognized in a miscellaneous revenue account
specific to each department.
4.7 Financial Assistance Program
The Community Services Department is committed to increasing access and
participation in recreation activities among Clarington residents.
The Canadian Tire Jumpstart program was created by Canadian Tire
Foundations for Families, and works in partnership with the Community Services
Department. The program's goal is to provide financially disadvantaged children
4 to 18 years of age with the opportunity to participate in sports and recreation
activities. 2015 saw a continued increase in the number of applicants and the
amount of funding distributed to the residents of Clarington.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Statistics
Year Number of Children Funding Distributed
Assisted
2013 46 $7,129
2014 61 $9,588
2015 95 $16,172
In addition, the Municipality of Clarington directly offers two financial assistance
programs:
Financial Assistance Program (FAP) - Individuals or families currently receiving
Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program Income Support can apply
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 10
for financial assistance of up to a maximum of 50% of the program/membership
registration fee. The chart below identifies the number of families and individuals
who received financial assistance with registration fees over the past three years.
Financial Assistance Program Statistics
Year Number of Families Number of Individuals
2013 21 44
2014 20 48
2015 25 54
Membership Access Program (MAP) - The Membership Access Program strives
to increase recreation opportunities for individuals with a permanent disability.
Clarington residents who meet the age criteria for facility memberships and who
have a permanent disability are eligible for the Membership Access Program
which provides a reduced fee for facility memberships. As this program relates to
a permanent disability, once an individual is confirmed eligible this program
remains available to them indefinitely; there is no re-application process.
Membership Access Program Statistics
Year Number of Individuals
2013 9
2014 5
2015 13
5. Community Development Section
Community Development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by
providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own
communities. Everyone can take part in the issues that affect their lives. It starts
from the principle that within any community there is a wealth of knowledge and
experience which, if used in creative ways, can be channeled into collective
action to achieve the communities' desired goals.
Volunteers have a real impact in our community. They lead local boards, sports
organizations and plan events. Volunteers are often the glue that holds a
community together and make our community a better place. Local activities
bring people together to build a stronger community. They allow everyone to
have a say in shaping the community. Through volunteering, everyone has a
voice.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 11
Staff are committed to enhancing the relationship with community partners by
creating an environment of encouragement, facilitation and learning which would
help to ensure that the volunteer experience is fulfilling and productive.
5.1 Connectinq with our Community
Traininq and Development:
Through Community Development, we work alongside people in our community,
build relationships with organizations and identify common concerns. We
attempt to create opportunities for the community to learn new skills and, by
enabling people to act together, help to foster social inclusion and equality.
Based on feedback from our community partners, staff worked with local trainers
to develop a series of community development events which would address
some training needs and also provide a forum for networking and support among
the volunteer community. The following workshops were offered to the volunteer
sector in 2015:
• Smart Serve Certification workshops
• Accounting 101 for Not-for-Profits
• Best Practices for Successful Volunteer Engagement
We are currently planning future community board development sessions which
will cover topics such as board leadership and strategic planning.
Increased communication:
From funding opportunities to new legislation, a lot of information becomes
available from many different sources that is applicable to the community
organizations who offer programs and services in our community.
The Community Services Department continues to share information through
Clarington Community Connections, an electronic newsletter, a tool that serves
to streamline the sharing of information and helps us to better connect with our
community organizations. This e-newsletter provides an opportunity for
information and resources to be shared with community organizations in a timely
manner through one convenient document.
The newsletter is sent out quarterly by email to community organizations that
have an email address on file with the Department. In addition to better
connection, this newsletter also allows the Municipality to get news out quickly
and better engage our volunteer community. There are currently close to 200
recipients of the electronic newsletter each quarter, with more added at every
opportunity.
5.2 Special Events
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 12
In 2015, corporate and special events became a function of the Community
Services Department. In addition to existing events already implemented through
our department, we have added several other corporate and community events
to our lineup.
On February 7, 2015, Clarington hosted the 3rd annual For the Love of Art
Mayor's Gala at the Clarington Public Library, Bowmanville Branch. The event is
an illustrious evening complete with musical entertainment, a silent auction,
mystery gift boxes and delicious snacks. In 2015, the proceeds of the Gala were
$30,000.00 and each beneficiary, the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington and A Gift
of Art Gallery received $15,000.00.
The Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair is an annual event, with a host of community
displays offered free of charge to local community groups and sport and leisure
providers. The 2015 Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair was held on Sunday, March
1, 2015. The event coincided with an existing public skate which was offered at
no charge for this day. We saw over 500 people visit close to 40 community
displays throughout the afternoon. We are hoping to build on this success in
2016, with the Clarington Sport & Leisure Fair on Sunday, February 28, 2016,
from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex.
The Municipality of Clarington welcomed the TO2015 Pan Am Games Torch
Relay on Friday, June 5, 2015. The Torch entered Clarington at the Bowmanville
Zoo, then headed west, primarily along King Street / Highway 2, with celebration
stops at the Bowmanville High School, CIBC Bowmanville and Loblaws. Our
community celebrated the Torch's arrival at two larger events held at the Garnet
B. Rickard Recreation Complex and the Courtice Community Complex. These
events were made possible with funding from the Municipality of Clarington and a
grant of $10,000.00 from Heritage Canada. Over 50 Torch Bearers proudly
carried the Flame through our community and the day helped ignite the spirit in
Clarington for the Pan Am Games.
Since 2011, the Municipality of Clarington has joined communities across Ontario
to celebrate Recreation and Parks Month. It is an opportunity to increase public
awareness of the value and benefits of recreation by offering low or no cost
activities to our residents. The Community Services Department celebrated by
visiting local parks through the Neighbourhood Family Fitness Tour, and offering
other activities such as Race Across Canada, Toonie Tuesdays, Free Fitness
Fridays and a Colouring Contest. Over the past five years, close to 2,000 people
have participated in June is Recreation and Parks month in Clarington.
The 10th Annual Mayor's Golf Classic was held on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at the
Newcastle Golf and Country Club with a dinner following golf at the Garnet B.
Rickard Recreation Complex. The event was another huge success, selling out
quickly with over 150 golfers, most from our generous local business community.
The 2015 beneficiary, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington, received the net
proceeds which totaled over $33,000.00.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 13
The Clarington Blooms program recognizes the residents, businesses, churches
and schools in Clarington who put time and effort into making Clarington
beautiful. 2015 was the 17th year for Clarington Blooms, returning after a one
year hiatus, and each year the program is organized in cooperation with the
Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono Horticultural Societies. In 2015, 260 front
gardens visible from the roadside / curb were nominated and over 100 people
attended the recognition ceremony this past October.
The Clarington Sports Hall of Fame has welcomed over 70 distinguished
athletes, teams and builders since its inception in 2003. In 2015, we proudly
welcomed five more inductees. However, the Hall had outgrown the space at the
Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex and in order to revitalize and make room
to display all of our Inductees, a renovation project was completed in 2015. The
Clarington Sports Hall of Fame is now brighter, modernized and displays with
great pride the achievements of our local sports community. The Community
Services Department is planning to bring the Sports Hall of Fame out into the
community, into various recreation facilities, with a phased in approach over the
next few years.
RBC Sports Day in Canada, presented by ParticipACTION, CBC and True Sport,
was celebrated in 2015 from November 14 to 28, in communities from coast to
coast to coast. This national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high-
performance, is an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate the power of sport,
build community and national spirit and facilitate healthy, active living. The
Community Services Department, along with various community partners,
celebrated Sports Day in Canada with a fun community event. The event was
held at the Newcastle & District Recreation Complex on Saturday, November 14
from 1:00 — 5:00 PM with over 200 in attendance. We had a variety of free
activities for all ages including basketball, pickleball, fitness activities, a water
polo demonstration and martial arts. Through funding received from
ParticipACTION, the Community Services Department was able to provide most
participants with sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs,
baseballs and gloves) they could take home with them to continue to play in their
neighbourhood.
The CP Holiday Train chugged through Clarington on Monday, November 30,
2015. Through this fun, holiday themed event, our three local food banks: St.
Vincent de Paul, Clarington East Food Bank and the Salvation Army received
$2,500.00 each from CP Rail along with truckloads of non-perishable food
donations brought by the show's spectators.
Clarington rang in the New Year at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex
during the 2nd annual New Year's Eve Family Celebration. Over 800 people took
part in the event which included public skating, inflatable obstacle course, face
painting, balloon art, carnival games, crafts and much more. We also welcomed
Zoo to You shows by the Bowmanville Zoo. A balloon drop at 9:00 PM closed
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 14
out the festivities. A nominal fee was charged for public skating, but all other
activities were offered to the community at no charge.
5.3 Community Grant Program
The Community Grant Program was established many years ago with the intent
to provide Council with a vehicle to acknowledge and support the efforts of our
local volunteer community and not-for-profit agencies that provide services,
events or projects which benefit the community. A maximum amount of
$60,000.00 was available for the 2015 Community Grant Program.
Each year, staff invite organizations to a community meeting to introduce the
upcoming program and to brief applicants on any changes or revisions to the
grant program while walking them through the application process. This meeting
also provides an opportunity for staff to address any specific questions or
concerns applicants may have with their specific application. The 2015
Community Grant meeting was held on January 14, 2015, and was attended by
29 individuals representing 24 community organizations.
Community Grant Application Summary
Community 2012 2013 2014 2015
Grants
Number of
Applications 42 41 34 35
Received
Dollar Amount $132,406 $122,497 $102,200 $115,781
Requested
Dollar Amount
Awarded $60,000 $54,600 $56,000 $55,500
The 2016 Community Grant Program was introduced to community groups on
January 13, 2016. The application form is available online as well as hard copy.
Applications will be accepted until February 26, 2016.
5.4 Community Sponsorship Program
The Community Sponsorship Program was developed in 2002 and had been
administered until 2014 through the Corporate Services Department. In 2015,
the Community Services Department began accepting sponsorship requests from
the community. A maximum of $40,000.00 was available for the 2015
Community Sponsorship Program.
Without formal program criteria in place, the Community Services Department
took this past year to observe and collect information about the types and
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 15
sources of requests, how the requests are submitted and how the program differs
from the Community Grant Program in order to determine how to best move
forward. In 2016, a formal process will be introduced to Council for their review
and approval.
Under the direction of Council, the Sponsorship Program supported 29 events in
our community for a total of $34,791.86.
6. Older Adult Section
In March 2015 work on the Older Adult Strategy was completed and presented to
Council. In June 2015 Council received report CSD-008-15 and subsequently
the mandate of the Community Services Department was expanded to include
responsibility for community programming for adults aged 55 years and older
living in Clarington, effective January 1, 2016.
In the summer and fall of 2015 an Older Adult Co-ordinator and Programmer
were hired to begin the planning and required preparations for a January 1St line
up of programs and services. During this time staff held many public information
sessions in the community to begin to market this new service area as well as to
solicit feedback on the programs and services individuals were interested in.
Staff were also busy planning program development meetings with community
partners, as well as recruiting, selecting and training program instructors.
In December, marketing and promotion of planned programs was an area of
focus with the printing and circulation of a four page glossy flyer, in addition to
radio commercials and strategically located road signs to kick off registration in
the New Year,
Construction on the Courtice Community Complex renovation was also
undertaken in 2015 and will be discussed further in the Facilities Section of this
report. Program planning for this new Older Adult Centre is currently complete
with materials having gone to print at the end of January.
7. Facilities Division
7.1 The Facilities Division is responsible for the operations and maintenance of
recreation facilities managed by the Community Services Department. This
includes permitting of arenas, swimming pools, indoor soccer facility and multi-
purpose rooms. The Division is also responsible for concessions, pro shops,
vending operations, as well as managing Clarington facility construction projects.
This overview is intended to provide Council with an update on the activities and
highlights of the Facilities Division for 2015.
7.2 Supporting the Facilities Manager, the Division is staffed by four Facilities
Supervisors. The Supervisors share the management of our seven indoor
facilities including concession and vending functions in all facilities. Along with
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 16
the 24 full time unionized staff, the Division requires approximately 80 part-time
staff to help operate the facilities.
8. Facilities Permitting
8.1 Our facilities booking office is responsible for the facility permits issued by the
Department on an annual basis. These permits include all rentals for our major
sport users in the arena, pool and indoor field facilities, and the annual facility
rental contracts for all major ice, indoor field and pool users. The majority of
facility usage is permitted to Clarington based minor sport users.
8.2 2015 hourly ice and floor rental statistics are as follows:
Category 2013(hours) 2014(hours) 2015(hours)
Minor Hockey — Boys 5,706 5,708 5,759
Minor Hockey — Girls 2,131 2,165 2,123
Figure Skating 623 646 596
Speed Skating 265 217 155
Adult Hockey 1,124 1,143 1,129
School Boards 206 229 218
Other 853 1,392 772
Lacrosse/Ball Hockey 1,315 1,190 1,143
Total 12,223 12,690 11,895
Due to a decline in registrations for Clarington Speed Skating as well as the
Clarington Minor Lacrosse Association the number of hours required by both
these organizations decreased from 2014.
8.3 2015 hourly swimming pool rental statistics are as follows:
Category 2013(hours) 2014(hours) 2015(hours)
Swim Clubs 578 511 535
School Boards 128 106 92
Other 90 106 86
Total 796 723 713
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 17
Renovations at the Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre reduced numbers
slightly for School Board and Private rentals.
8.4 2015 hourly indoor soccer/outdoor lacrosse rental statistics are as follows:
Category 2013(hours) 2014(hours) 2015(hours)
Youth Soccer 1,133 1,207 889
Adult Soccer 153 141 138
Other (Private/School Bd) Field 99 163 102
Youth and Adult Lacrosse Bowl 174 244 153
Total 1,559 1,755 1,282
A decrease in Private and School Board bookings on the Indoor Field for 2015 as
well as a decrease in Darlington Soccer Club registrations resulted in the Club
being forced to hand back field time to the Municipality.
8.5 Pay-as-You-Go and Complimentary Programming
In addition to private and community group rentals, the Department provides a
variety of public programs to residents in our facilities. This includes pay-as-you-
go and complimentary programs.
2015 attendance statistics are as follows:
Category 2014 Attendance 2015 Attendance
Shinny Hockey 2,099 2,862
Shinn 55+ 3,123 3,194
Youth Shinny 415 240
Ticket Ice 250 191
Skate 55+ (complimentary) 5,323 5,425
Parent & Tot Skate 6,546 6,845
(complimentary)
Indoor Soccer Walking Program 7,044 6,646
(complimentary)
Indoor Soccer Drop-in Soccer 250 72
Total 25,050 25,475
Ticket ice hours have been reduced due to decreasing demand. All additional ice
is being booked through the Bowmanville Figure Skating Club as needed. Drop-
in Soccer at the Bowmanville Indoor Soccer & Lacrosse Bowl has decreased
from five days per week to just two due to lack of attendance. The introduction of
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 18
a weekend Parent & Tot session at South Courtice Arena has been well attended
and will impact attendance moving forward.
9. Community Partnerships
9.1 In May 2015 the staff of the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex were
nominated by Community Care Durham (CCD) - Clarington for their annual
Community Service Recognition Award. "This annual award is to recognize an
exemplary not-for-profit organization that has provided to CCD either a financial
contribution, and/or a donation of time by its members, or has otherwise
distinguished itself in support of CCD service to clients." Since CCD - Clarington
relocated to the facility, the cooperation between the two staff teams has been
excellent and was shown with this nomination. Although we did not win the award
the nomination speaks to the success of working together with community
groups.
9.2 In 2015, staff met regularly with Veridian Connections and Solera Sustainable
Energies to discuss the potential for roof-top solar installations at municipal
recreation facilities. Following negotiation of roof lease agreements, Veridian
Connections submitted three applications for solar rooftop system projects to the
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for installations at Newcastle &
District Recreation Complex, Bowmanville Indoor Soccer and South Courtice
Arena. The specific timelines for application announcements are not known at
this time but we expect to hear back by the spring of 2016.
10. Construction Project Management
10.1 With the responsibility for municipal facility construction, the Department
continues to manage both new build and renovation projects on behalf of the
Municipality. Staff assumed the project management of the Courtice Branch
Library expansion in 2015. Working with the Library Director and her staff from
the design phase and through construction, the library was re-opened to the
public in August. Staff continued to work with the architect and contractor to fully
complete outstanding deficiencies and address warranty items.
10.2 In 2015, the Department continued with the renovation at the Clarington Fitness
Centre. The facility was re-opened to the public in August and on September 19th
a rededication was held and the facility officially became the Alan Strike Aquatic
and Squash Centre. Since the re-opening we have received positive feedback
about the improvements to the facility. The Department has recently submitted
this project for consideration to Parks and Recreation Ontario in their Excellence
in Design Award category. The results of this nomination will be announced at
their annual educational forum in April.
10.3 The renovation of the former banquet hall and lease space at Courtice
Community Complex began in November 2015 and is expected to be complete in
late March 2016. This will provide dedicated older adult programming in the
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 19
banquet hall space and increased fitness and recreation programming in the
former leased space. In addition, the main entrance doors are being replaced in
February with motion activated sliding doors. This will greatly improve
accessibility into and out of this very busy facility for all patrons.
10.4 In the summer of 2015, the federal government announced the approval of a
50% grant, worth $455,000.00 for the renovation of the banquet hall and kitchen
facilities at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. This funding was
provided through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150).
Once a contribution agreement is executed by the Municipality in March,
architectural services submissions will be received and the renovation design will
commence. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in October 2016 and
will be completed in the spring of 2017. We are looking forward to the upgrading
of these facilities and see this as a great benefit to our community.
11 . Energy Conservation
11.1 The Department continues to support the energy conservation efforts of the
Municipality with three staff members serving on the Energy Management
Committee. Staff awareness and engagement will again be a focus for 2016.
11.2 In 2015 we continued to work with Veridian Connections and Hydro-One on
incentives for energy efficiency through the saveONenergy program. We are
awaiting approval on a number of applications, with the largest being the rebate
for mechanical and electrical upgrades in the renovation at the Alan Strike facility.
12. Health and Safety
12.1 Workplace health and safety continued to be a high priority in 2015. In addition to
the monthly workplace inspections completed by the Joint Health and Safety
Committee, Department staff continued to perform monthly supervisory
inspections at our recreation facilities. In addition, the divisional managers
inspect the workplaces semi-annually with the Director performing annual
inspections.
12.2 The division continues to work closely with the Health & Safety Coordinator on
our workplace safety training programs. Currently, our full time facilities staff
attend two one-day training sessions in November and April each year. These
sessions provide an opportunity to update staff on operating procedures,
emergency responses and other current industry information. We have recently
brought in the Public Sector Health and Safety Association (PSHSA) to provide
staff training and certification in various areas of workplace health and safety.
12.3 Workplace health and safety has become ingrained in our day to day operations
and remains a topic for discussion on meeting agendas at all levels within the
department.
Municipality of Clarington
Report CSD-003-15 Page 20
13. Facilities Development Strategy
13.1 This strategy will provide a framework for the development of new indoor
recreation facilities, as well as the expansion of existing facilities, to meet the
growing and changing needs of our community.
13.2 As part of the community engagement phase of the study, the project team held
a number of Public Information Centres throughout the Municipality. In addition,
interviews were conducted with members of Council and workshops were held
with staff and major stakeholders,
13.3 We anticipate this project coming to a conclusion with a presentation and report
to Council this spring.
14. Concurrence
Not Applicable
15. Conclusion
15.1 The Community Services Department is very proud of our accomplishments over
the past year. Our state of the art recreation facilities offer a safe and attractive
environment for all our residents to enjoy.
15.2 Our youth and adult recreation programming continues to provide Clarington
residents with a variety of opportunities that encourage a healthy lifestyle.
15.3 In 2016, the Department will continue to identify areas of potential development
and growth, ensuring quality recreational opportunities for our growing and
diverse population.
16. Strategic Plan Application
The recommend-at' ns contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan.
Submitted by: Reviewed by: .�y_%
Jose P. Caruana, Franklin Wu,
Director of Community Services Chief Administrative Officer
Staff Contact: Sharon Meredith, Manager of Recreation, 905-623-3379 ext. 2504
or smeredith(u-),clarington.net and George Acorn, Facilities Manager, 905-623-3379
ext. 2503 or gacornp_clarington.net
There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.
J PC/SM/GA