By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Fit, Fun and Fully Alive exercise class has received approval to be held, free of charge, in the upstairs hall of the Astrolabe Arena.
The three-times a week class, provided by volunteers with the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre, was to begin the day of council, but with the discussion regarding the hall space not yet held, the class was cancelled.
In a report to council by community services manager Jordan Durocher, background information on the class was provided. The Centre wants to help provide the best possible health and well-being for everyone, he said.
The WBCHC recently asked if the $30-an-hour fee could be waived, or at least reduced, because the grant funding that had been used to pay the fee was no longer available, he told council at its Wednesday night meeting.
Mr. Durocher provided three options for council. The first was to provide the hall for free; the second was to offer a reduction in the hourly rate to offset costs incurred and the third was to continue at the regular user-price fee.
Following a discussion, council agreed to waive the fee for this year and direct staff to review the community grants policy and process, as well as fees for community use of township facilities prior to the 2018 budget process.
Mr. Durocher said, “As you are well aware, the Centre is pretty vital in the region and they are committed to assisting people in the community to achieve the best possible health and well-being.”
A senior fitness program cannot be offered by the municipality, he said, adding there currently isn’t staff and resources.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin questioned how much would need to be charged just to recoup costs to the municipality.
“We don’t want to make any money, but I think if we have to pay people to be there, plus the hydro, (we need to charge) just enough to recoup the costs,” he said.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said the fee in the bylaw would have to be changed. Staff is now looking at fees and charges, because currently there is no consistent use of fees, he said.
“We believe we either charge the current fee or we say for this program, which runs September 2017 to May 2018, that we provide it free of charge,” and then research is done to ensure charging is consistent.
Explaining, he noted there are some groups that pay a fee to use the community hall at the municipal office, and other groups that do not pay a fee.
“We need a consistent process,” he said.
Mayor Hal Johnson was in favour of reducing the hourly rate.
“We know you are going to come up with a fair rate, and I don’t think we can probably do that in that facility for free,” he said. “We should be good to our seniors. The health and welfare of people is very important.
“This group, the community health centre, will definitely provide good programs.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson noted there are not enough senior programs supported throughout the municipality. She suggested the seniors program be offered in the community hall in the downstairs of the municipal office.
“It is available; you don’t have to climb the stairs, not that seniors can’t climb stairs, but I think it’s more important that it be accessible,” she said. “I don’t know how much room they use, perhaps that could be asked.
“Otherwise, (at the arena), we have to have staff go in and open the door, unlock the door, turn the lights on, etc.,” she continued. “I know it’s a bigger room, but the heating is much more.”
She also believes if the cost is equalized, it will be much more than $30 an hour.
Connie Tabbert (yes, the writer of this article), was invited to speak to Coun. Charlene’s question. She is one of the volunteer senior fitness instructors for classes in Cobden, Foresters Falls and Beachburg.
“There’s no way the class can be held downstairs,” she said. “We get approximately 25 seniors, and they’re 55 and older, and they are constantly moving.”
The classes are offered for free, with those who are able, to make a donation, she said.
That changed Coun. Jackson’s mind.
“I’m in favour of offering it for free,” she said. “We don’t offer many things for seniors as recreation in our municipality.”
Ms. Tabbert noted the program is offered for free in Beachburg, Westmeath and Foresters Falls. There are many classes provided throughout the week, both low and high mobility.
“We aren’t ignoring any of our seniors,” she said. “All of them are allowed to come and have fun.”
Councillor Cathy Regier was also in favour of offering the program for free in the hall.
“This program has been running for a while and it is very successful,” she said. “They have a really good group of volunteers who give up their time, you’re one of them, for this. I think we can do this as an in-kind donation for our seniors.”
Councillor Chris Olmstead said, “In my opinion, there is nothing more important than the mental and physical health.”
Coun. McLaughlin agreed.
“We can’t put a value on health,” he said. “Having these seniors all mobile and out there and doing exercise, it keeps them out of hospitals.
“I wasn’t aware that every other area that this is offered is free. When I hear that, I changed my mind.”
Coun. McLaughlin still wants staff to see how much it would be just to recoup costs, adding, that if it is offered for free in other parts of the municipality, that’s what council should provide as well.
