(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Y-M-C-A!

A look inside Red Deer’s new Northside Community Centre

Jul 8, 2019 | 4:14 PM

The brand new Northside Community Centre has opened its doors with the YMCA of Northern Alberta at the helm.

Located at Taylor Drive and 77 Street, the facility has been a long time coming for north Red Deer, which has lacked this type of new infrastructure in recent years.

Centre Manager Amy Komarniski says the Y’s goal is to help facilitate and develop strong kids, healthy families and thriving communities, including within the school divisions and with those connected to the adjacent skate park.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“We all have this shared vision of helping to develop leaders in the community, and in that specific area, leaders of the skate park who are ambassadors for the skate park can take on some leadership role in helping to take care of the park, this facility and the area as a whole,” Komarniski says.

AI HAS "SUPERCHARGED" SCAMS

Anyone can be a scam victim: Keep yourself safe, this Fraud Prevention Month

4h ago

Rocket League

Lindsay Thurber Esports team finds international success

4h ago

Fresh tomatoes

New partnership leads to hydroponic farm for Red Deer Food Bank

6h ago

“Organizations like ours and the Central Alberta Skateboard Association are excited to see some infrastructure in the north because it will help facilitate bringing community together, building relationships, getting to know your neighbours, and feeling a sense of belonging.”

Programming available at the community centre includes camp counsellor training, for example.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“The programs we’re running offer specific skill-building and physical literacy with a big focus on getting active and getting mobile, and also in more specific areas like our kitchen program and our arts and culture program,” she explains.

“There’s something for everyone, and there are a lot of shared spaces where all of those different kids with different interests and niche hobbies have a place to come and meet together.”

Additionally, community groups can rent boardroom and other types of spaces for private functions.

A grand opening is happening at the Northside Community Centre on July 24 from 4-7 p.m.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.