Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) Chief Stan Dixon says he is getting calls from the public asking why the Band is building a new recreation centre when a recreation referendum for the Coast just passed.
"You see, the SIB offered 11 acres eight years ago when then Chief Feschuk sat on the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD)," said Dixon. "The offer was rejected by the then recreation committee, so we were disturbed by the rejection."
Dixon says his membership lobbied the Band for their own recreation complex, which is why a new $7 million recreation facility is being built behind Extra Foods. That complex does not include a pool. Dixon notes the Band has recently publicly supported the recreation referendum in an SCRD meeting.
However, Dixon notes their recreation plans could have included a pool, had the referendum failed to pass.
"We are all very fortunate the vote passed because we might have had to add a swimming pool to our facility. We have the land, but no money," said Dixon.
He says Band members are happy there will be a pool built in Sechelt as a result of the recreation referendum.
"That's what we always wanted - a pool close by that everyone could access," he said.
However, he notes Band members want more than "just a pool. They want a recreation, education and cultural facility, and that's what we're building now."
The facility being built on Band lands behind Extra Foods will house a large gymnasium for sporting events and conferences, as well as an educational component, change rooms and a community kitchen. The total cost of the centre is estimated at $7 million.
"We already have $1.7 million committed from the Department of Indian Affairs and we have donations from corporate sponsors," said Dixon.
"Construction Aggregates will probably donate half a million in cement work. Council is busy looking at other foundations and organizations for support as well. And we have committed $1 million of our own resources to the project."
The Band's recreation centre is slated to be completed by 2007. Dixon says it will be open to everyone on the Coast.
"Our people wanted a recreational gymnasium as far back as 1985. So, we were told by our people to build it. We can't wait for the SCRD to do it," he added.
