Local Events

Over the coming summer months, the Rideauview Community Centre will receive a much-needed expansion to better serve the growing population of Riverside South.

The centre will receive a 1,650 square foot addition to the rear of the current building that will house a new multipurpose meeting room.

Gloucester-South Nepean ward Coun. Steven Desroches said the centre was opened ten years ago by the former City of Gloucester. He said it's a focal point for residents in the community, and offers a range of programs for all ages. As well, he said, it has been the location of choice for many community events and celebrations.

"This multipurpose room will give the parks and recreation staff, and the community, the flexibility to offer a wider range of programs and activities," he said. "We will be consulting with the community, as we do on a regular basis, on what kind of programming and activities they would like to see operated at the Rideauview Community Centre."

The expansion will extend from the back of the building, but won't affect the current play structure, he noted. As well, he said additional parking on site wouldn't be added, in order to preserve the park space as much as possible.

"Obviously this will have an impact on the park but I'm not anticipating any play structure will have to be moved," Coun. Desroches explained. "Staff are quite confident that (with) the day-to-day demands of the community centre, the parking lot will be sufficient."

The $800,000 expansion is being entirely funded by the city. Coun. Desroches explained that the city hopes to have the tenders in place by the spring with construction beginning this coming summer.

The new room will allow for more programming and allow increasing current programming, like the popular before and after school care programming, and will allow more spaces for children of working families.

"We have a very successful youth drop in centre that's operated on Friday evenings at the community centre and this space just gives us a lot more room to offer programs and accommodate more seniors, youth and families on site," the councillor said. "I'm pleased and I look forward to opening the doors of an expanded community centre."

As it stand now, summer classes will not be interrupted by the construction, however if this changes Coun. Desroches said he would inform the community.

Anyone interested in viewing plans for the expansion can attend a meeting with Coun. Desroches at Moncion's Your Independent Grocer on March 20, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.