Grant Program: Recreation Infrastructure Program (RiNC)

Project Summary: Thornhill Community Centre Expansion

Thornhill Community Centre is a multipurpose facility serving Markham residents in Thornhill. Current amenities include twin pad arenas, a library, gymnasium, fitness centre, therapeutic pool, seniors centre, hall space and multipurpose rooms. There is a growing demand for more dedicated space for youth, seniors, fitness members as well as library users. As such, an expansion making use of underutilized spaces within the facility is proposed.

Key facility features would include:

o Dedicated Youth Centre

o Conversion of Library Auditorium

o Reconfiguration of basement area to further accommodate fitness

o Additional space added to Senior’s Centre

Costs:

The project budgets have been broken down in considerable detail with third party verification received on costs. At a high level, total costs for this project are as follows:

Facility Name	Total Upgrade Budget
Youth Centre (including construction and equipment)	$3,000,000
Conversion of Library Auditorium (to a two floor space)	$1,000,000
Reconfiguration of basement area (including new fitness equipment)	$3,000,000
Additional Senior’s Space	$2,000,000
10% Consultant / Service Fees	$ 900,000
TOTAL COSTS	$9,900,000

Timeline: Preliminary concept drawings have been completed. It is estimated this project could be ready for construction to begin in 2010 with completion by 2012.

Benefits: There are significant benefits to this project:

• Customers of all ages engaged in learning and study, and in particular, high school and postsecondary students, using new study spaces/rooms for quiet study or group school-projects.
• Customers participating in recreational and library programs held in the new multi-purpose rooms.
• Community groups meeting in the new multi-purpose rooms.
• Children and their caregivers engaged in early literacy development, preschool learning activities, and schoolage-learning support in the expanded Children’s Area.
• Customers of all ages participating in computer learning & training programs.

• Meet public demand for improved/increased spaces for study, meeting, computer training & children's programs
• Align Thornhill library facilities with modern standards for library services, including appropriate space allocations for children’s spaces, computer space, study space and programming space
• Increased revenue from library programs and room bookings
• Increased/improved community partnerships (e.g. Seniors Centre).

Recreation and Library useage is a major contributor to community social life and forms an important part of our culture, traditions and identity. Access to these opportunities can be an important element of family life by transmitting positive values to children. Participation enhances community quality of life and lends to the development of healthy, productive citizens.

In addition, the vast majority of Canadians believe that participation in recreation can have a positive influence on the personal and moral development of youth. Participation in recreation develops self esteem, self discipline and responsibility among our youth; while also helping to establish fitness and a positive identity for persons of all ages. In the report “Canada’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Children & Youth – 2006”, it was reported that interesting correlations exist between children’s participation in sport and their sense of belonging and self-esteem. Children with a low sense of belonging and low self-esteem were half as likely to report participation in sport, regardless of age or gender. Also important to note is the fact that the decline in self-esteem that begins at the onset of adolescence is mitigated by participation in recreation.