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The benefits of the C2 stretch to every corner of the community.
When the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre broke ground, nobody could have predicted the impact it would eventually have on the community.
In the 10 years since the $25 million facility opened on Sept. 3, 2007, it has provided steady service to a wide variety of groups and organizations throughout the Lakeland.
The centre offers a variety of options from wellness programs, fitness classes and drop-in sports, to Bonnyville Pontiacs games, live concerts, and other community events.
Without the indoor courts the C2 provides, an entire season would be wiped out yearly for residents who play drop in pickleball.
“We're here playing five days a week, so we really appreciate having this facility in town. Especially in the winter months, it allows us to continue playing year round. We have a very active group that ranges from 50 to 75-years-old,” explained pickleball player Linda Elsley.
While the seniors are tearing up the courts, the younger generation is simultaneously taking advantage of the facility.
Some residents spend their time on the indoor track or in the fitness centre, while others like the drop in shinny program the C2 runs.
“It's just a great place to come together and play sports. Without it, I wouldn't have a place to play hockey. I probably wouldn't even have met some of the friends that I have,” said Bonnyville resident Dyson Benko.
Residents of all ages looking to get active aren't the only ones who have benefited from the services available at the centre. Various organizations have built strong ties with the facility over the years.
A good example of this is the Dove Centre, which helps provide vocational training for adult residents with developmental disabilities.
“We have a number of people who watch the movies held there, and utilize the café for lunch. There are members who use the track and the fitness centre – we use the whole building,” said Robert Goulet, service coordinator at the Dove Centre.
Through the summer months, minor soccer and lacrosse are among the many groups that hold regular season play at the facility. During the winter, minor hockey and figure skating use all three rinks onsite for practices and competitions.
The variety of people drawn to the C2 also makes it an ideal spot for community outreach programs, such as The Dragonfly Counselling and Support Centre.
“The Centennial Centre really seems to be a hub for the community. It brings us together in a lot of different ways. We see that it provides an increased level of comfort for our clients to be able to come forward,” noted Cheryl Bujold, executive director of the Dragonfly Centre.
Though so many groups already utilize the facility, staff are always open to making additions to programming. According to Centennial Centre marketing director Sue Phillips, the process of providing residents with variety never stops.
“We're always looking for ways to keep what we offer (and how we offer it) fresh, relevant, and meaningful. Community is at the heart of everything we do, because it's our community that makes us what we are.”
