It started in two rooms by Lang Park next to the Richmond Public Market.
Now, City Centre Community Centre boasts 28,000 square feet with a fitness centre, programming for all ages on Minoru Boulevard, just north of Westminster Highway, serving city centre residents.
The Richmond City Centre Community Association is celebrating its 30th anniversary this Saturday with a party open to the public.
The association's humble beginnings include collecting coins from the fountain in front of library, using the two small rooms at Lang Centre, and building relationships with local schools for space usage.
In the early 1990s, city staff called a meeting one Saturday morning to ask the community “what is your vision of city centre long term,” explained Paige Robertson, who attended that initial meeting.
While the city was providing programming around the neighbourhood, there was no central location where it was offered.
About 40 people were at the meeting including parent advisory groups and sports associations.
This resulted in a six-woman committee being formed, and they started meeting regularly to plan the future of recreation and sports in city centre, people from all different walks of life, Robertson said.
As the Official Community Plan was developed, it became apparent the population of city centre was going to grow rapidly – as it has over the past few decades – and there was a need for a proper community centre.
Part of the community-building process was fostering relationships with the neighbourhood schools, Currie, Cook and Anderson elementary schools - eventually they would get gym space for community programs.
Early ideas tossed around included a skateboard park at Minoru Park, as there was a thriving skateboard scene in the area. This, however, got vetoed.
The Golden Rods and Reelers wanted to teach children to fish – and this became a regular thing for city centre kids, done at Triangle Beach.
In 1994, the City Centre Community Association was formed.
However, the association needed to open a bank account, but they didn’t have a start fund.
After some discussion with the city, they were given permission to collect coins from the fountain in front of the library and the cash was used to open their first bank account.
In 1997, they started using two rooms at the Lang Centre for programming, and it became a “real hub” for the community, Robertson said.
In the early 2000s, discussions started on building a community centre, but it wasn’t until 2012 that construction began..
Finally, in 2015, the current City Centre Community Centre opened.
“It was busy right away,” Robertson said.
A developer wanted to donate money towards it and his $33,000 contribution is memorialized in a sign at the centre in memory his wife Carol Tong.
City Centre Community Centre has a “community living room,” multipurpose rooms, a fitness centre and aerobics and dance studio, a music room and art studio, a lounge and kitchen as well as meeting rooms.
City centre continues to expand
With the two large city centre malls – Richmond Centre and Lansdowne – being developed into high-density residential areas, both Robertson and Williams can see the community centre's needs growing in the future.
Sometimes, however, being tucked away on Minoru within the same complex as Trinity Western University, makes their centre hard to spot.
“I think the future is bright – but we could use help from the city with signage,” Williams said.
Both Williams and Robertson feel the association acts as the “stewards” of the community centre with its programming for the neighbourhood.
But they hope more nearby residents get involved so they have a “new generation of caretakers for the centre.”
They also want feedback from the neighbourhood on how to better serve the residents.
They are asking the community what they need and how the community association can provide it, Williams said.
“I want to come in here and (see that) it’s noisy.”
Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday’s 30th anniversary event begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 2:30 p.m.
There will be entertainment by the centre’s in-house dancers as well as a ballroom dancing performance.
Miss Lori will be performing for the kids and there will be craft activities with in-house artist Ming Yeung.
Food, including wraps, sandwiches, veggies and dip, beverages and cupcakes, will be served as long as supplies last.
City Centre Community Centre is at 5900 Minoru Blvd.
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