Katie Eaton, Recreation Supervisor
1. Events: Family Fun Night — End of summer family event at Kinsmen Park. Parents and their children are welcome to attend for BBQ, bocce, parachute games and more. Free admission for families, we’re asking people to bring a loonie towards the BBQ. Thanks to Larry Clarke for volunteering his time at this event!
2. Programs: Sun Fun program ended on Friday, August 29th. Final Report was submitted by Coordinator Kiera Heinrichs and feedback provided by all the leaders. Staff evaluations were completed August 28. Excellent season of camp, registered spaces filled most weeks, and waitlisted on many. Actuals for wages and revenues will be reported in the October meeting. We have been approved for one Canada Sumner Jobs grant in the amount of $2000.
3. Administration: Fall brochure was published by Laurena Rehbein on Mon, Aug 18, printed by Wed, Aug 20 and posted on our website and ready for pick-up by Friday, Aug 22, with registration beginning on Monday, August 25. Recreation Guides were not mailed out this year, they are available for pick-up at Oliver Tourism Centre, Oliver Post office, Medici’s, SuperValu and Buy Low.
Carol Sheridan, Manager of Parks and Recreation Administration/Labour Management: Extended office hours on Monday and Wednesday nights started Sept 3, and so far is proving very productive.
The Facility Attendants have done a very good job maintaining and improving the condition of the parks, pool, arena and hall facilities this summer. We have received several favourable compliments from the community at large about the condition of the parks and the staff has dealt with all the many challenges we faced with the pool and parks facilities this summer efficiently and with positive results.
We have been approached about sponsoring the Oliver Curling Centre for the 2014/15 season. The following is the breakdown of the sponsorship. I feel that this opportunity provides valuable marketing as well as employee wellness and team building for the OPRS. Item Value. One Corporate team $600 – OPRS name prominently displayed within the curling centre: Large 4×8 sign on the wall with your name and message No charge (trade for sign in arena) In-ice logo at hog line on two sheets $350 ($175 each) Name mentions as sponsors in reports and newsletters. No charge 1 weekend hosting event — includes use of rink, lounge, kitchen $400 1 lounge hosting event — includes bartender $100 Unlimited participation in Skill Improvement Clinics n/c Total Value = $1450 OPRS Fee = $1000
Facilities: Chiller installation is now complete in the arena and everything is fully operational. Regular ice schedule starts Monday September 15.
The annual ice user meeting took place on August 20 and was attended by SOMHA, SOFS and Ernie Rotheisler with Monday Night Seniors. There was some negotiation necessary as prime time ice (3-9pm) is sought after by several users groups. The Monday Night group has been asking for a few seasons to start their regular playtime at 8:00pm instead of 9:00pm; however both SOFS and SOMHA have regular Monday night practices that run back to back from 2:45-8:50pnn. Best practice and standard ice use policy in the industry is that minor sport gets priority for booking during prime time. We do not want to risk losing any user groups, however, so I will be reviewing this request again in 2015.
The Big League Experience baseball camps Owner Marty Lehn was very happy with the condition of the facilities and the improvements made to the diamonds this spring as well as the level of service he received from all the staff. Marty reported “best summer ever” as far as fields and service levels go. I have been receiving consultation on pool surface repairs and upgrading our salt water/chlorination system for the Oliver Pool. Options for both will be presented at the October meeting.
A meeting with fitness professionals regarding the reconfiguration of the weight room will be taking place on Friday Sept 12 at 1:30pm. Park operations will continue until Monday October 6. At this time we will be winterizing washrooms and the splash park and ceasing park maintenance until March 2015. There have been requests from the community for year round washroom access at Lion’s Park, I am investigating portable options for the winter.
Community Development: Healthy Living Coalition Food Security Project that will take place between September and March. We were successful in our grant application for a graduate student team from UBC to work with local stakeholders to complete this project in exchange for school credit.
The Oliver Evening Market and Music in the Park concluded at the end of August. A debrief meeting was held Wednesday Sept 10 with the Music in the Park committee. All agreed that the Community Park venue was good and that this would continue for 2015. Concerns were expressed about finding more shade for spectators and performers and advertising the Community Hall as a rain location so that the show and market could still continue in poor weather. Some suggestions for the evening market were to move vendors closer to the stage and to have another meeting with the Oliver Country Market A-Fair in the hopes that they would consider a partnership for 2015 which would be a good draw for the weekly event.