SPORTS CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 4

SPORTS CENTRE

COUNCIL APPROVAL

UNANIMOUS SUPPORT

Unanimously the City Council last night gave its approval to the recommendations made by a preliminary committee which during the past few days has tied up the loose ends of the sports centre and skating rink projects for the better entertainment of members of all the Services, including, of course, the servicewomen. .

That this has been possible has been due to the generous attitude of the American Red Cross, which has undertaken the staffing and management of the civic sports centre by a trained staff of sports supervisors, the management of the Glide Skating Rink being a separate project of the Patriotic committee. . . .

Councillor R. H. Nimmo outlined the discussions with representatives of the American Red Cross and the Patriotic Committee, leading to full agreement.

"When the facilities which are now in train are in operation—that is the conversion of the former tramway power-house bjiilding into a sports stadium and recreational centre and the renovation of the Glide Skating Rink—there will be created an evening recreational area very long looked forward to by all the Services," he said. "The sports centre, in particular, should be one of the really bright spots of the city for men and women on leave, the brightest entertainment spot for the Services in the Dominion, thanks to the splendid collaboration of the American Red Cross in providing what we cannot' provide, a trained, experienced sports staff."

The council unanimously approved a recommendation that a standing committee should be appointed to work with the American authorities in the operation of the Sports Centre, comprising the Mayor, ex officio, two representatives of the City Council, two of the Patriotic Committee, one representative of the Citizens' Committee, and one representative of the American authorities, Mr. R. W. Parsons, of the Town Clerk's department, to act as secretary of the sub-committee.

In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Luckie, congratulated the preliminary committee on the prompt success of its endeavours to obtain finality, and he also expressed warm appreciation of the collaboration with the council by the American Red Cross and the Patriotic Committee. Everyone had swung to, and the promises,for early opening had been more than fulfilled, for skating in the Patriotic Glide Rink would open next week and the "All Services Recreation Centre" would follow soon afterwards.

"That," said Councillor Nimmo, "is because the City Engineer, Mr. Luke, and his assistants, Mr. Aked and Mr. Usmar, have been back at work, night after night, and because everywhere, from Government, as well as American and council officers, we have had such encouraging co-operation." Mrs. Knox Gilmer expressed her thanks also that both projects were now on the way and that, from two emptied buildings and seemingly endless confusion, most promising entertainment projects had eventuated.