Cambrian Fitness to close Dec. 31

BY BILL BRADLEY

Hopes to revive the popular West End Cambrian Fitness Centre, set to close Dec. 31, have died.

Earlier this fall Dalron Construction purchased the building from Cambrian Foundation that have been running the centre on behalf of Cambrian College students and members of the surrounding community. Close to 800 members used the centre on a regular basis.

When word got out the centre was to be sold, a number of community meetings were held. About 150 people expressed concern about the future of the facility.

A steering committee was struck, and Ward 1 Councilor Joe Cimino was enlisted to pursue what options were available, including discussing with Dalron representatives what could be done to keep the centre open.

Citizen Paul Stopciati and Cimino stated they know now that it is just too costly for a community organization to operate the facility.

Cimino said he received some hard numbers on operation costs from Shawn Poland, executive director of the Cambrian Foundation.

“The bill for utilities in 2006, water, fuel, electricity was $120,000. Taxes were $26,000 but the real cost is deferred maintenance estimates-$500,000 to $1 million,” said Cimino.

Not included are costs for staffing, insurance, snow removal and day -to-day maintenance.

“The conclusion is that on a month-to-month basis, this is an extremely large sum that current members can not afford to take on,” said Cimino.

It had been suggested that other existing fitness centres might be interested in tackling the operation of the building, but it was found many were locked into long-term leases in their present locations.

Cimino said that lack of notice worked against the community being able to broker a solution.

“If we had a year to get better organized it could have made a difference,” said Cimino.

This Tuesday at 6 pm, there will be a celebration of  good times at the fitness centre and a roasting of some members at the Caruso Club, said Stopciati.

“We are having a get-together for members one last time before the end of the month closing and any surplus money from the dinner will be donated to the soup kitchen,” said Stopciati.

Tickets are $25 and available at the fitness centre on Lorne St. Phone 673-1430.