Phase III Development - Our Vision

Family Leisure Centre is now starting to focus on our Phase III vision, which is to be a part of developing a complementary recreational facility in the deep south.  With our strong community partnerships model and our proven ability to be sustainable, we are well positioned for success.

A Phase III, Seton Development Committee has recently been formed and a letter from Jaime Plain, Chair of the Seton Committee and Jack Redekop, President of the Family Leisure Centre can be found below, outlining our exciting vision. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information or wish to be involved in the Seton Committee.  

Map of Proposed Seton Development Recreational Facility

May 1, 2008

RE: South East Recreational Facility for Calgary

The Family Leisure Centre (FLC) is a successful, non-profit charitable, community owned organization that has been in operation since 1983. The FLC Board structure is comprised of 22 volunteer representatives from 17 community associations serving 26 communities in South Calgary, 2 user groups and a representative from the City of Calgary.

In 2005, the FLC Board began discussing the wellness, social and recreational needs of their partnered communities as there is a huge void in recreation and sport facilities in South East Calgary. With the knowledge that one community association does not have the voice or expertise to successfully build and operate a major wellness complex, an FLC committee (The Seton Committee) was formed to address this issue. The membership of this committee also includes a broad representation of residents from Calgary’s South East communities. The Seton Committee’s goal is to work in partnership with the City of Calgary to design and construct a major wellness and recreational facility on land designated in the Seton area next to the new South Calgary Hospital, within the next 4 years.

The conceptual plan of a South East Recreational Wellness Facility is based on the successful governance and management model of the Family Leisure Centre. The FLC in partnership with community associations, the City of Calgary and corporations, has developed a model that is able to successfully integrate all the wellness and recreational activities needed by communities into one overall sustainable model.  In addition to providing membership dollars back to the communities it serves, this facility has also successfully integrated the much needed "non-sustainable’ activities with the sustainable activities, into one over all comprehensive facility that, in the last four years, has contributed almost $1 million dollars into its lifecycle and maintenance fund.  The result is a 25 year old facility that is continually maintained and upgraded and is capable of providing recreational and wellness facilities in a sustainable operation for residents of South East Calgary for the next 25 years.

It has been widely reported that the communities south of the Bow River are underserved and rapidly growing. The FLC currently serves 26 communities housing over 230,000 residents.  Projections from the City of Calgary show that the South East quadrant is expected to continue to grow, adding over 90,000 residents in the next 10 years, and another 120,000 (for a total of 210,000) in the next 20 years. The FLC is continuing to expand and enhance its current facility to meet the changing needs of a continually growing user base, but more facilities are required for residents in the deep South East communities of Calgary.

On November 5, 2007, City Council passed a motion approving $70 million to be designated to a South East Recreation Centre. The City of Calgary has already set aside 8.0 hectares of land near the new South Hospital development in Seton which is zoned and approved for recreational use (1). The Seton area is the ideal location for a major wellness and recreation facility as it is easily accessible from the major South East arteries; Deerfoot Trail and Highway 22X. Also, this site is in close proximity to the new South Calgary Hospital, guaranteeing easy access to public transportation. Wellness and recreational services are instrumental in injury prevention and complimentary to health care services provided at the hospital. The Seton Committee intends to work with the hospital to use any public or private funding raised for the project in mutually beneficial ways to meet the needs of South Calgary users.

In order to ensure that the FLC continues to be responsive to the growing needs of the residents of South East Calgary, the Seton Committee proposes to construct a recreational wellness facility that is assumed to be similar to the proposed North East Recreation and Wellness Complex. The committee will wait for the completion of the studies currently being conducted by the Calgary Sports Council and the Community and Protective Services Department of the City of Calgary. (This needs and preference study is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008). Once the study is finished, the City intends to do a RPF (Request for Proposal) at which time the Seton Committee will be able to apply to the City for the opportunity to design, build and manage a major wellness and recreational facility.

The estimated budget of the proposed South East Recreational Wellness Facility is $115 Million. This figure is based on today’s construction estimates and the current projections that have been developed for the North-East Recreation Facility. The final determination of the exact facilities to be included in the major recreational complex will be decided by the group selected by the City of Calgary to design, build, and manage the complex. If the Seton Committee is successful in being selected for this opportunity, the members of the committee will have in-depth consultation with the City of Calgary and area residents to create a building plan.  The wellness and recreation needs of South East Calgary residents will be examined and activities and services will be chosen based on the demographics, sustainability, economies of scale and human needs. The goal is to balance revenue streams with programs and services for all ages, and develop complementary wellness partnerships with tenants

The Family Leisure Centre has proven that it can deliver wellness services, and high quality sport and recreational programs through the collaboration, teamwork and commitment of various partners. These include our member community associations, corporate sponsors, all three levels of government, tenants, service providers and sport associations. The FLC Board is committed to supporting the Seton Committee and the South East Communities and families of Calgary. The City of Calgary is committed to having people, "meet their needs closer to home creating a strong sense of community and contributing to the vitality of the area as a whole"(2).

Support of this Comprehensive South East Recreational Facility will ensure a coordinated, sustainable solution to meeting the recreation and wellness needs of South East Calgary residents for today and the next generation.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss the goals of the Seton Committee or further details of our plan, we are available to meet in person at your convenience.

Yours truly,

Jaime Plain

Chair, Seton Committee

Family Leisure Centre Board Member

jaimep7@telus.net

Jack Redekop

President, Family Leisure Centre Board

jack_redekop@telusplanet.net