It seems a dance company offering hip-hop lessons at a Richmond community centre doesn’t have a current business licence.
Last fall, Fresh Groove offered dance lessons for children aged three to 18 at City Centre Community Centre in the fall, but following a complaint, it was discovered they didn’t have a business licence. This was rectified after the complaint was lodged, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams.
However, Fresh Groove continues to run classes at the community centre, but their 2023 business licence is pending as their building – on Voyageur Way – needs to be brought into compliance for a dance studio.
Contractors who offer classes at community centres are required to have a business licence, insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage as well as CPR training in some circumstances.
But, when signing a contract at a community centre, the only paperwork that needs to be shown is the insurance papers, not the business licence nor the WSBC coverage.
A city staffing transition seems to be at the root of the problem as far as the business licence issue at the community centre is concerned, Adams added.
Fresh Groove's website currently indicates they're offering lessons, and the City Centre Community Centre brochure advertises classes offered by the dance studio.
The zoning for the building Fresh Groove is located in is appropriate for a dance studio, but the facility itself needs to have some modifications in order to get the business licence, Adams explained.
He added the city rarely shuts down businesses because of such issues, rather they work to get them into compliance, adding Fresh Groove is an “active file” with the city’s licencing department.
“We’ve made it very clear to the business they need to address this issue, and they need to address this quickly,” Adams said.
Adams said the situation with Fresh Groove seems to be an “anomaly” and not the standard across the city as far as contractors at community centres are concerned.
The News has reached out to Fresh Groove, but didn’t hear back before press deadline.
