The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) draft recreation master plan took some heavy criticism from a Gibsons councillor Tuesday night.
Speaking at a July 16 committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Lee Ann Johnson said the plan is flawed because it fails to address the needs of the Coast's growing senior population.
"There is almost nothing in the plan to address the needs of the 25 per cent of the population that is already senior," Johnson said. "And there's nothing to address the frail elderly seniors. They are the most rapidly growing demographic group of all -people over 90 are multiplying like crazy. To provide adequate recreation for people in that age group requires a different way of looking at it."
Johnson, who sits on the SCRD board as alternate director for the Town, said she questions how the plan, which is supposed to be a blueprint for parks and recreation services during the next 10 years, can meet the actual needs of the public.
"There's just a whole realm of issues that our community faces that I don't feel got addressed in a large-picture way, and I find that very disappointing," she said.
Her comments followed a presentation on the master plan by SCRD parks and recreation staff and steering committee chair Anne Titcomb.
Titcomb said the steering committee invested 26 months developing the master plan, incorporating the comments of 700 people.
The plan, she said, represents a shift towards a more citizen-focused service.
Responding the next day to Johnson's criticism of the plan, Titcomb elaborated on that theme.
"What is imbedded in the plan is the 'community development model' which will allow the staff to move into the smaller communities on the Sunshine Coast and speak with individuals of all ages about their needs," Titcomb said. "As you know there is a seniors' centre in Sechelt, and Gibsons has Harmony Hall. With the ability to have programmers out in the community, they could also go to both those places to see what the seniors would like in the way of supports."
During the staff presentations, Paul Fenwick, general manager of community services, said options for the Gibsons pool include a major refurbishment that could extend the life of the facility for another 30 to 40 years, or building a new pool near the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, where "you would have the synergy of having all those facilities in one place."
Meanwhile, SCRD directors were asked July 11 to consider including the Gibsons Curling Club as part of the master plan.
Speaking as "a personal representative of the curling club, but not at the authority of the executive," Arthur Jones said if plans were ever developed to move the Gibsons pool to another location, "it would be very beneficial for us to pencil in a square for a potential site for a curling club."
Looking ahead is prudent, Jones said, as "the building is 50 to 60 years old and has problems, and those problems are going to get worse instead of better."
The curling club is situated at 951 Gibsons Way, next to the Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility, on property owned by the Town of Gibsons.
The club will be holding a major membership drive this fall, with the hopes of attracting more young members, Jones said.
