The L.E.A.F. Initiative is a Commonwell program to support capacity, resiliency and growth in the communities we call home.

BGC Kawarthas “Let’s Get Physical” Space Renewal

107 Lindsay Street South Kawartha LakesK9V 2M5

What is this project about?

Physical fitness is a key determinant of health and wellbeing and is one of the ways in which our club excels. Two of our main fitness areas are in need of a makeover. Our gymnasium is our prime recreation space – thousands of children, youth and adults use the gym each year. Currently, the 6,950 square foot gym is divided by old, heavy curtains that are difficult to clean and interfere with programs. They’re a safety hazard as kids hide in them, pull them, or even hang on them, posing risks for safe play and for adequate supervision. They also impose on some of our court spaces.

We would like to modernize the gym with proper dividing curtains that roll up to the ceiling with the use of electrical controls, improving the health and safety of the space, and allowing us to maximize usage of the facility. The vinyl material would be fire resistant and resistant to rot and mildew. A new scoreboard would also be purchased.

In addition, we have a smaller fitness area for teens which needs additional equipment to meet the fitness goals of our youth. Currently, it has excellent cardio equipment that has been donated, but lacks mats, dumbbells and mirrors which will provide a wider and more accessible range of activities for youth aged 12 – 18 who frequent our Warehouse Youth Centre.

Why is this project important to the community?

This gym is used by thousands of children, youth and adults each year, often 7 days/week for a wide range of activities. Improvements to the space will enhance learning, education, physical activity and enjoyment. During the week, usage begins at 7 am with our licensed childcare programs for supervised play and learning activities. Students at Adventure Quest, an alternative learning program for grades 7-12 in our building, enjoy weekly physical activity in the gym. Our after school programs in Lindsay, which accommodate over 100 school aged children, play sports and games each day after school. And our youth and adult sports leagues, from basketball to ball hockey to volleyball and pickleball, keep the space occupied in the evenings. On weekends and during other non-program hours, the gym is rented for birthday parties, community sports leagues and events. Our smaller fitness space allows teens to stay active four seasons of the year, and while the larger gym is being used by other programs. About 150 youth aged 12 – 18 visit the Warehouse Youth Centre each week and consistently identify fitness as a need. Physical literacy is one of the life skills that we offer to teens in order to help them become healthy adults who participate meaningfully in community and civil society.