CRANBROOK RECREATION COMPLEX COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

March 13, 2002

7:30 - 9:30 pm

Cranbrook Recreation Complex - Meeting Room 1 Minutes

Present:

Meeting started at 7:30 pm

1. Review of minutes from December 11, 2001 meeting - Mike Patterson

2. Approval of minutes from December 11, 2002 meeting - Mike Patterson

3. Presentation of new logo for Cranbrook Recreation Complex - Richard Gagnon

-showed the copy as selected to date, an explanation as to why this particular logo and font was recommended.

-discussion followed as to alter the colors to include the "X" fellow as the same color as the rest of the word. This would be more pleasing to the eye and the flow is continuous. Suggestion as to potential of the concept and other uses for the image. Launching of the new logo has been delayed due to the possibility of sponsorship and naming of the facility.

4. Pylon Sign - Richard Gagnon

- Presentation of pylon sign as designed by image sources. Comments and suggestions from the committee regarding the particular design. The 3-D electronic design was favorable due to the convenience of programming and it's attractiveness. Discussion followed as to obtaining advertising.

5. Exercise Walking in the Arena - Richard Gagnon

- Exercise walking in the arena has been a great success. Hours of walking are from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm and 6:00 - 10:00 pm Monday to Sunday. Input from committee members as to how we can improve this program. Suggestion to keep logs of walking distance to encourage participation and make it a challenge. Also the suggestion was made to provide incentives to be distributed as customers achieve certain distances. We will construct an arrow to determine direction so that patrons will have some variety. Discussion followed regarding serving refreshments at this time and to also include these people in the seniors program.

6. Special Events - Richard Gagnon

- Explanation as to what events have been scheduled and what events have been cancelled and moved to another venue. For various reasons this has been a slow season but the management are working diligently to secure more special events in the upcoming months. Announcement of the Superdogs Show coming in June for Sam Steele Days and the Husky Skate the Nation on May 23, 2002 tickets on sale currently. Committee members discussed some potential shows that would be received well in Cranbrook. In order to achieve attendance numbers the ideal event would have to attract an audience of all ages. Brainstorming on festival ideas and what the market is in Cranbrook. Paul Heywood from the Key City Theatre remarked that it takes 3 - 5 years to establish your venue in order to receive events on a regular basis.

7. Joint Advertising Opportunities - Richard Gagnon

- Met with interested parties prior to this meeting.

8. Brainstorming for a Recplex Slogan - Richard Gagnon

"Cranbrook Recplex……….."

• Commit to stay fit
• Connecting your community through fitness and recreation
• Heart of the Community
• For the finest, fittest people.
• A place for people
• On the move
• Go There
• Pulse of the Community
• Ride the Wave
• The place for everyone
• Extreme Adventure
• Extreme Activity
• Do the Extreme
• Are you up for the challenge
• Can you imagine it
• Be There
• See you there
• You're Invited
• Welcome
• In motion
• The place to be

9. questions -All representatives shared their planned activities

Mt. Baker High School - Jeffrey Ross

-Internally - Concession, Air Bands

-Interested in a Kick Off Concert for theng of the school year

Seniors - Keith McFadden

May 23, 24 & 25th 2002 are the dates for the convention to be hosted in Cranbrook with the hopes of approximately 1000 people attending. The provincial association has lost five branches this year and the total membership has lessened due to this.

City of Cranbrook - Leisure Services- Diane Butz

Process of developing ball and soccer fields in the Echo Field area if all goes well then this shouldnext spring. Skateboard park to be constructed and hopefully to be completed by the end of August. Pop Price park will have funds allocated to updating this park. Aquatic Center has installed steps for handicapped access to the pool.

College of the Rockies - Toni O'Keefe

Enrollment for September is going to be well, tuitions will be going up 50% but will not affect enrollment. Avalanche volleyball team have done extremely well this year, their coach Steve Camps was awarded B.C. Coach of the Year and will hopefully be awarded as Canadian Coach of the Year. Toni mentioned the due to the sell out audience of the Ladies

Triton Swim Club - Stan Saliken

Currently at 33 members , 4 advanced to AA provincials, 1 to AAA provincials this season. Concerned aboutng times and clarification of such. His group are still concerned about the cleanliness of the pool area. Richard Gagnon addressed this issue and is working on the ability to increase the budget to rectify this problem. Invitational Swim Meet to be held May long weekend.

Cranbrook Skating Club - Anne Crawford

Reported on the success of the Rocky Mountain Freeskate Competition. Thanked the Recplex for their participation in this event. Commented on the swift removal of some children who got stuck in the elevator. Reported that Cranbrook will be hosting both the Kootenay Regional Championships and the Rocky Mountain Freeskate Competition. AGM to be held April 17, 2002.

Cranbrook Minor Hockey Association - Margaret Laidlaw

Organization is just winding down the last tournament will beheld on the weekend. Rep teams are heading to Provincials. Registration at 550 members up this year. Applied to host the provincial tournament next year and hopefully will get the Bantam AAA. The organization has applied to host the Friendship Tournament in 2005. AGM to be held in June.

10. Next meeting to be held on June 11, 2002.

11. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm.

December 11, 2001

7:30pm - 9:30pm

Cranbrook Recreation Complex meeting room Minutes

Present:

Meeting started at 7:30pm

-Would eventually like to include all events offered here by all the tenants as well as follow-up info on events that have been held at the Rec Plex.

-Would like to incorporate information and schedules for the pool, curling rink and arena into this ad.

 

-VESTAR would like to build a partnership with other community groups, i.e. College of the Rockies, Rotary, to help promote the city as a whole.

-Committee suggested doing a calendar and or pullout that people could stick onto their fridge, so they know what is going on each day.

 

-Marketing wise, we should look at the different layouts that are currently being used by other facilities like this in the other larger cities.

-Suggestion was brought forward to look at doing bulk registration for all clubs at the same time.   It is more convenient for the parents to come to one place to register for their children’s activities. 

 

-Advertising of our walking schedule, in the upper area of the arena should be advertised.

-College of the Rockies has the resources to help with layouts and organizing of these ads.

Broadway on Ice will be here at the Rec Plex on Saturday, December 15.  There will be a celebrity skate during one of the intermissions.

 

The Skating Club would like to thank VESTAR and A&W for each donating 2 hrs of ice, to help with the costs for this event.

-The Rocky Mountain Free skate will be held here, at the Rec Plex, on February 23-24, 2002.

-Club is doing well, competing wise but not well number wise. Many parents don’t want to enroll their children in the swim club, as the viewing area is very minimal.  They can’t come and watch their kids swim, and this is an issue.

 

-Day to day cleanliness is poor and maintenance needs to be improved.  ng of the pool with the technicians has been resolved.

-Club feels the two-tier system for area “C” residents is affecting the enrollment for the club as any children who apply for sponsorship through Kidsport are turned down.

- College is willing to help anyway they can with marketing and sponsorship.

-Still focus on how to get people to our community.

-Season is nearing the end and not many tournaments are left. 

 

-Clinics that where held here in October where very successful.  A lot of positive feedback about this facility and the provincials has a potential to be held in Cranbrook next year.

- Kootenay Ice and this facility have really made a big impact on minor hockey.

-Cranbrook is the largest branch for Senior Association in this region.  They are hosting a large meeting of approximately 1000 seniors on May 21, 22, and 23rd of 2002.

 

- Meetings will be held at the Eagles Club and at the Senior Citizens Hall. 

-Promoters have talked about the networking with outlaying cities to help promote an upcoming special event.  

 

-This year the Promoter’s are saying that this year has been the worst year on record, due to recession and the event on September 11.

1. Welcome from VESTAR Facility Management and The City of Cranbrook - Lead by Richard Gagnon

2. Introduction of the Chairman of the Committee -Lead by Mike Patterson

3. Introduction of Board Members for the upcoming year -Lead by Mike Patterson Richard Gagnon:

Vestar Facility Management; Marj Hoffart and Ursula Boy: Cranbrook Skating Club; Paul Haywood: Key City Theatre; Diane Butz: City of Cranbrook; Alan Redding: Chamber of Commerce; Wendy Hogg: Triton Swim Club

4. Terms of References -Lead by Mike Patterson

See attached document -Purpose of the committee-see attached document dated June 5, 2001

5. Community use time in the arena -Lead by Richard Gagnon

- Explanation of what community time is and who is entitled to it. Groups like Cranbrook Minor Hockey, Figure Skating Club and other non-profit organization. -Kootenay Ice games and other special events have first priority over ice times and users can be cancelled due to this. -Diane Butz confirmed the rates for community use time at the Rec Plex is $88/hr. This rate is set by the City of Cranbrook.

6. Scheduling procedures for the Cranbrook Rec Plex -Lead by Cheryl Peters

- See attached documents to review policy and guidelines. -Dressing rooms are not licensed so user groups cannot be drinking alcohol after the games.

7. Attracting more community events at the Rec Plex -Lead by Richard Gagnon

- The arenad Oct 13, 2000 and has had 8-9 events since. As per omnibus agreement we shall be hosting 16 events per year. Promoters are shy with bringing major attractions here and so are community groups because of expenses. -Discussion took place on how to attract more business here, whether it is with promoters or local organizations. I.e. Rotary, Chamber of Commerce -With the American dollar rate at this time, it's very inexpensive for our US neighbors to come to concerts held here in Cranbrook. -Marketing is a big part as the beginning is all hype and but it dies off fast as the marketing seems to stop. We need continual marketing so people know what is constantly going on.

8. How can we attract the public to come to smaller cities like Cranbrook for Special Events? -Lead by Richard Gagnon

- We need to prove that this area is viable and prove to them that Cranbrook can do it. Marketing and advertising are a large part of success and there isn't enough of it here. -Richard announced that VESTAR has created a web page at www.cranbrookrecplex.com. Will also be putting a page into the advertiser each month of all the events happening for that month. -VESTAR is trying to do a partnership to help finance a billboard, on the main strip, to help promote this center.

9. Aquatic Center -Lead by Diane Butz

- Vestar is in charge of the facility operations and the City looks after the programming. (See attached for swim admissions 1998 VS 2001) -Pool is doing better than expected and has surpassed the old pool. A big part is due to the fact that not as many lifeguards are needed as projected. -98 sport passes are sold. Tracking of non-residence will be available in the future but estimate that 20% non-residence is using the pool. -Discussions regarding the 2-tier system and was clearly explained by Mike Patterson.

10. Programming -Lead by Diane Butz

- New programs are implemented that will increase the City's revenue. Currently they are looking at bringing in Masters, adults; synchronize swimming, snorkeling, diving programs and possibly water polo.

11. Triton Swim Club - Lead by Wendy Hogg

- Discussion took place regarding theng procedures by Facility Technicians. -Tritons also need more storage on and off the deck. -City will be looking at purchasing bleachers that will fold and go in and out of the doors easily. -Request was put forth for fund raising help for the swim club. Richard suggested that the club approach promoters/organizations and see what they can do. Promoters/organizations look at ways to help community groups. I.e. Rotary Group- Champion of Skating.

12.questions

13. End of meeting

14. Next meeting, December 11, 2001 7:30-9:30 Cranbrook Recreation Complex- meeting room #1