Recreation

The Culture and Recreation department provides inclusive, safe and enjoyable recreational and cultural programming and opportunities for all community members. We manage, operate and program the City’s community facilities and spaces such as community centres and arenas, museum, performing arts centre and civic squares, as well as public art development. In addition, this department supports grant allocations, subsidy programs and community investment programs.

The department strives to meet and exceed the needs of the community through active engagement of residents and stakeholders, strategic partnerships, community outreach, volunteerism and events.

Under the Strategic Plan priority of Working Together for our Future, this team strives to attract and develop highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively internally and externally to deliver quality programs and services.

The work we do in this department also advances the Powering our Future priority by actively providing a diverse range of enriching cultural and heritage and recreational opportunities. These programs and services support economic growth while enriching the lives and health of our community.

We will continue to support the Sustaining our Future priority by delivering diverse programs and services that better the health and wellness of the community.

We are Building our Future when we invest in community and social services supporting overall community well-being. By providing opportunities for fair and equitable participation and belonging we foster civic connectivity and community vitality.

$1,089,287 or 17.3% net increase in budget due to:

• While user fees were increased by two per cent on average, due to Covid-19 uncertainty, budgeted revenue was not increased above 2020 levels.
• $88,200 net increase in purchased goods mainly due to increase in utility costs.
• $23,300 increase in internal charges due to increased cost for fuel, maintenance and insurance.
• $608,547 increase in transfer to Tax Operating Contingency Reserve to phase in the operating impact of the new South End Community Centre to be opened in 2024.

$2,283,074 net budget increase mainly due to:

• Inflationary adjustment in compensation, fuel, maintenance and insurance, increased cost of utilities, and inflationary adjustment for community benefits agreement.
• The opening of the South End Community Centre in 2024 for a total net budget increase of $2.4 million that was phased in from 2021 to 2024.
• Revenue budgets to be reviewed in 2021 to assess the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on City programs.