I was happy to see the City is officially opening its new City Centre Community Centre (C4, as some of us are calling it) Saturday — mainly because it gives me an excuse to write the Ode to Community Centres that has been in my head for a while.
The new centre is beautiful, by the way. It’s not huge but has a bright, spacious, au naturel feel to it. It looks a bit like the Oval, with its light wood and soft green décor, but, more importantly, it’s designed with the clear intention of bringing people together, supporting families, providing fitness and creating community.
Now for my ode:
When I first moved to Richmond, with baby and toddler in tow, life was chaotic, but what held us together, in large part, was the Steveston Community Centre. Despite whatever else was going on, we’d get up, out the door, and head to the centre. My son would go to pre-school, my daughter to child-minding and I to the fitness room.
Some mornings I’d be so sleep deprived I would just lay on the mats, but most mornings I would work out, breathe deep, and have some great chats. (The mid-morning crowd is particularly friendly.)
After that, my kids and I were ready to regroup and head to the Steveston playground (note, playground — another part of this support system) for lunch and run around time.
I’m a Thompson Community Centre gal now, as it’s on my bike route home. Not long ago, I ran into my teenaged son there (where’d the years go?), who’d ridden his long board up the Railway Greenway to play table tennis with friends.
Point being, Richmond’s parks and recreation department has served my family well.
When it comes to raising kids, so much focus is on parents — and for good reason. But we can’t do it alone. Resources like bike paths, playgrounds and affordable and well-resourced centres, are also critical.
Now my parents live nearby. I can’t even begin to list the community centre activities they’re involved with, from seniors’ outings to pole walking (not to be confused with pole dancing, although they may offer that too.)
What I find interesting is that Richmond has a very pro-business city council. Some could (and may) argue fitness programs, dance lessons, seniors programming and preschools are best left to the private sector. In fact, during the mega home debates, “let the market decide” was a frequent refrain.
But community is more than a commodity. It’s good to see that, at least in the world of parks and recreation, council and staff appreciate government has a place.
So, welcome to the fold, C4. May you offer some frazzled mom the sanctuary Steveston offered me.
