Gimli is on track to have a new fitness centre built close to the Gimli Recreation Centre after a majority of council adopted a resolution to build the new facility at its regular meeting April 17.
The recreation centre has had a fitness centre in its basement for about 30-plus years, but surveys over the years indicated residents wanting “new environs to stay in shape,” according to a synopsis of the fitness centre project.
Phase 1 will see a facility built with 7,000 square feet of space that will include gym space, studio space, washrooms, saunas, showers, change rooms, locker facilities, a snack bar and office. It will have room for cardio machines, weight machines, free weights and a Yoga, Pilates and dance aerobic studio. It will allow for personal training, rehabilitation for heart or other surgeries and fitness classes.
“Our proposed building is consistent with what industry experts consider to be normal and appropriate for a community like Gimli,” states the synopsis.
Although a fair size, the facility will be too small to house a walking track, pickle ball, volleyball, badminton and basketball courts.
“These are amenities that could be included, if deemed feasible, in future additions or phases in development,” states the synopsis.
Currently, the current gym has 95 to 100 regular users, and it’s anticipated that the new centre will see a 30 per cent increase in users, states the synopsis. That should result in increased revenue for the RM.
The estimated cost of the fitness centre will be $950,000.
Chief administrative officer Kelly Cosgrove said prior to the election, the provincial government provided per capita funding to the RM. Those monies could be used for various projects including recreation.
All of the per capita funding of $503,652.79 will be put towards the fitness centre. An additional $277,362 will come from the RM’s multiplex building reserve fund and $168,000 will come from municipal revenues.
Mayor Kevin Chudd said the announcement of the new fitness centre was made during a fireman’s ball last November.
“This is really exciting for the community,” he said.
Chudd and councillors Thora Palson, Kurt Reichert and Andy Damm voted in favour of the fitness centre. Councillor Richard Petrowski voted against it.
“I opposed it because the government’s per capita money could have been used for waterline renewal,” said Petrowski after the meeting. “I’m very concerned about capital spending as a whole. I feel this project is being rushed along and things don’t always turn out well when things are rushed. There should be a plan for this fitness centre done by a professional outfit.”
Given his lengthy time on council, Petrowski said he anticipates the new fitness centre will cost more than $950,000.
“I’ve been on council long enough to see overruns. This centre will be bigger than the pool’s changing room building, which was very costly and that was pre-COVID,” he said.
