Just two weeks into summer weather has been pretty good though there were some pretty hot days. I hope our Music in the Park program has given you some relaxing, fun and enjoyable moments. This new event is solely sponsored by the Association. Please tell us how you found it. Our summer camp programs are running strong and we could program them without much restriction. Before summer ends the Association will organize a brunch for all our volunteers to show our appreciation of their contribution. This year we have a new format as we will have our cook to prepare the food right in our commercialized kitchen. I look forward to meeting in person our volunteers for the first time since the Centre has reopened.

We have now completed evaluation of the air conditioning project and decided that we are financially secure to add more funds to this project. Currently we planned to start the project as early as December 5. This project coincides with the painting project for the gymnasium. The timing of these projects is to minimize the impact to our programs. The City’s election is coming and Renfrew will be a polling station as well as an advanced polling station in October. Also, in September there will be the Harvest Fair and the Moon Festival with the amazing display of lanterns along Still Creek. You can get the details in the brochure. Please note that on November 19 the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in room 110 from noon to 2 pm. This meeting will be the first AGM held in hybrid mode, meaning in-person and online combined. This would give us the maximum flexibility as the pandemic lingers.

I have mentioned in my last message about community centre renewal and that Renfrew comes second in the renewal prioritization list. Unfortunately, in the June 29 City’s Special Council Meeting the councilors did not allocate any funds in the 2023 – 2026 Capital Budget Plan to advance the renewal project as stated in the Community Centre Strategy. I attended the meeting and spoke about the importance of funding the planning of the renewal project now to avoid paying a steeper price down the road. However, much of the funds for the community infrastructure in the Capital Plan have been allocated to the Vancouver Aquatic Centre’s renewal and expansion. Funding is always the highest hurdle that any infrastructure project has to overcome. Community centre renewal is important to all of us and we have to keep pressing forward and get our concerns heard and taken care of by the City. Let’s work together to make community centre renewal a dream come true.

Sincerely,
Albert Lee, Renfrew Park Community Association President
renfrewparkcommunity@gmail.com