4 - Friday, February 26, 1999 —

Flicka

Liata Lahey Contributing Writer IT’S rock versus roll.

Approximately 30) young gymnasts packed the « at North V Monday night in an ¢ persuade council to reverse its decision cto prohibit the Flicka Gyminasties Club trom occupying the — Lonsdale

s Dec. 14 deci- sion ta let the North Vancouver Curling Club (NVCC) stay at Lonsdale w done to appease the NVCC's concerns over having to share a private rink owned by the North Shore Winter Club. Bur the move has been das being both

costly for the recreation com- mission and a m city’s recreational {

out of the Memorial 1980 under i conditions.

© non-profit organiza- tion offers competitive and recreational programs to youth berween the ages of two and 38. It has been working with che recreation commission for close to four years in search of a new home that would accommodate the club’s 1,000, mostly female, members.

By comparison, the curl- ing club boasts a mostly adult membership of approximately 440 curlers.

The rec commission sug- gested to council — last December to move the NVCC to the Winter Club’ rink and allow Flicka to use the Lonsdale rink space.

“This facility (Memorial Gym) is being over-utili we're operating 88 hou week,” said Flicka’s presid Steve Buchanan.

“We've been working with

THE

singly tight

North Shore News

lobbies city for Lonsdale home

the North Shore Recreation Commission for four years tc tind a larger facility and we were disappointed counci rejected the ree commission’: recommendation back ir December.

“We have Jess than one suarter of a soccer field (gym ’ Jand we have the equiv alent of five or six soccer teams in that room.”

The Memorial Gym is a 7,300 sy. tt. (680 sq.m)

ity with a 25 tt. (7.6 m)

ling.

pproximately 150 sq. f spac used by coaches and gym- nasts as office, lunchroom, and team reom spa

The club has been asking fora 15,000 sq. ft. (1400 sq. m) facility that offers change rooms and offices.

Because renovating, Memorial Gym would require the removal of two tennis courts and cost $1.5 million, the rec commission and the North Vancouver Sports Advisory Council ree- ommended the Lonsdale rink as an alternative.

“LT don’t like the idea of a conflice between two sports groups and we've been trying very hard to avoid thar,” Buchanan said.

“(Should council change its decision) this will provide miore space for the curlers ata different facility about four kilometres away; they (the curlers) don’t lose anything except for that space and we are extremely overcrowded.”

Buchanan asked council on behalf of Flicka’s growing membership to reconsider its Dec. 14 ruling and allow Flicka to call the Lonsdale RecCentre home.

Curling club representa- tive Shayne Dunlop updated council on the curlers’ attempts to increase member- ship and raise an additional $20,000 to bring curling

subsidies inkne with other sports,

The club's efforts have vielded modest results, “The total projected cost of the curling program for 1999 will run as high as $170,000 compared with an anticipated $72,500 in revenue. Th works oUt to approxi $220 in recreation commis sion subsidies per curler.

Sandy Fleming, chairman of the North Vancouver Community Sport and Reereation Couneil, told council he supported the rec commission's proposal to move Flicka to the Lonsdale tink. The move would save the rec commission anc mated $75,000 over five year

“For a number of c.irlers at the Lonsdale { ty have been heavily subsi- dized with only a basketful of chents,” Fleming

“About 390 adults: and 50 youths curl (at Lonsdale) ... 1 understand the curling sub- sidy is S5 per visit. that’s twice the amount the aquatic program receives. Mm not tying to be critical of the curlers, but these are the fi °

By Fleming’s estimations, the NVCC has increased its membership by a meagre 10% and he described the chan of those numbers increasing dramatical insprobable. *

voted —unani- to revisit the issue k

‘Coun. Stella Jo Dean, w ho voied in favour of mov-

ka to the Lonsdale

itv fast December, d

hould reconsider its

sion “and enter

into a five-vear lease agree: ment with the Winter Club (te accommodate the N 2). Flicka is overcrowd-

ed, and ['m in favour of

doing something for the young people.”

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