One Step Closer to the Creation of a Community Centres Society
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
One Step Closer to the Creation of a Community Centres Society
West Vancouver, BC: West Vancouver is embarking on an innovative governance model for its recreation facilities – one that is truly community-driven! The first steps towards the creation of the new West Vancouver Community Centres Services Society are now complete. On Monday, October 6th Council approved the Joint Operating Agreement whereby the Society will now transition to full oversight of the new Community Centre and the Aquatic Centre.
In early 2008, an interim Board was appointed to work out the details for forming the Society and negotiating a Joint Operating Agreement. Currently, the Society is operating under this interim Board of Directors until it is formally registered with the Province. "This agreement between Council and the Board is an affirmation of our confidence in the Board, and of our approach to collaboration in the good governance of West Vancouver," says Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.
The Joint Operating Agreement defines the relationship between the Society and the District by laying out the roles of each party and the Executive Director, the Society’s key staff person. The District and the Society will operate the new Community Centre jointly. The Society will be responsible for programming and space allocation, developing and monitoring the budget, and pursuing fundraising opportunities. The District will continue to provide the basic infrastructure and services including building maintenance, accounting, and human resource administration. “The creation of a partnership to provide added value to programs and services for these two facilities is both innovative and unique, and enables residents to directly influence recreation programming,” says District of West Vancouver CAO, Grant McRadu.
The District identified a desire to engage community members and foster community ownership of public facilities; enhance service delivery; build volunteer capacity; and leverage resources beyond traditional District sources. The creation of the Society is the result of work done last year by a Working Group charged with recommending a community governance model for the new Community Centre. “We have an exceptional Board consisting of West Vancouver residents who are confident and excited about the opportunities this new model presents to add real value, through public involvement and consultation, to these exceptional community recreational facilities,” stated Board Chair Barbara Brink. “We thank Council for this opportunity to ensure our new centre is a model for community involvement and where all members of the community feel they belong,” she concluded.
The purpose of the Society is to oversee the operation of designated community facilities, to maximize community involvement, to develop community leadership, and to add value by engaging community members; and fostering community ownership and involvement, enhancing service delivery, maximizing volunteer capacity and expertise, and leveraging resources beyond the traditional.
After the Joint Operating Agreement is signed and the Society is registered and incorporated, the Society will begin the initial phase of cooperative operation leading up to the Society assuming its full role and responsibility in September 2009.
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Media Contacts:
Patricia Leslie
Communications Manager
District of West Vancouver
604-925-4736
Barbara Brink
Chair
Community Centre Board of Directors
604-926-5776