This Sunday evening (Dec. 22) at 8 p.m., the doors of North 性视界传媒 Recreation Centre will close forever.

The 54-year-old facility has reached the end of its 鈥渇unctional life,鈥� city officials say, and those who use the pool, gym and ice arenas will have to go elsewhere, within a four-kilometre radius.

The two sheets of ice have been out of service since September, when all ice sports moved to the new North 性视界传媒 Sport & Ice Complex, a three-rink facility built near Scott Road SkyTrain station.

North 性视界传媒 rec centre鈥檚 pool and gym are now set to close, too, and those programs will shift to Guildford and Chuck Bailey recreation centres.

Dave Bains, who has visited North 性视界传媒 rec centre since 1981, is sad to see it go.

Along with other patrons and staff, he attended a farewell potluck event last week.

鈥淚 swim there every day now, and see all of the same people,鈥� Bains said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very sad 鈥� we鈥檙e all sad about it, but I鈥檝e done my mourning,鈥� Bains added. 鈥淚鈥檒l be going to Guildford (rec centre) along with some other people, and it鈥檚 actually closer to where I live. But I鈥檝e complained for years that the water at Guildford is icy cold, too cold to swim there.鈥� But they have told me they reviewed it and will raise the temperature, so I鈥檒l go there to test it out for myself.鈥�

One final walk through North 性视界传媒 Arena, where I played hockey as a kid. The rec centre will close for good this Sunday.

鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

鈥� RELATED STORY, from June 25: The end is near for North 性视界传媒 rec centre.

In June, detailed plans to decommission and eventually demolish the aging North 性视界传媒 Recreation Centre, built in 1965 and since renovated several times. The city plans to replace the building with a mixed-use 鈥淐entre Block鈥� development that would radically change the look of the area, adjacent to 性视界传媒 Central SkyTrain station.

One day, the site could include a proposed City Centre YMCA, which would be built in partnership with Simon Fraser University.

鈥� READ MORE, from Sept. 9: New YMCA facility eyed in 性视界传媒 City Centre, with site 鈥榓 first key step鈥�

Laurie Cavan, 性视界传媒鈥檚 general manager of Parks, Recreation and Culture, said rec centre staff will be transferred to work at other city-operated facilities.

鈥淚t has been a fantastic facility for the North 性视界传媒 community,鈥� Cavan said this week, 鈥渂ut certainly it has reached the end of its functional life and it鈥檚 better for us to move forward with the investments we鈥檝e made in new facilities versus continuing to spend resources on trying to maintain an aging facility.鈥�

"Happy Gilmore" in a 性视界传媒 Minor Hockey jersey! Spotted this in the opening scenes of the movie. Not sure this scene was filmed at North 性视界传媒 Arena or not. Anyone?

鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

At North 性视界传媒 rec, extended public swim times are planned on Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 21-22), daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hot chocolate and candy canes for all. Regular admission rates apply.

Looking ahead, will be held Jan. 18, with free public skating, entertainment and skating demos. The fitness facility there will open on Jan. 2, and classes start Jan. 6.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite significant to be opening a facility of that size in the community, and it鈥檚 a very big investment,鈥� Cavan said.

鈥淓verybody loves their local rec centre, and we understand that, and it will mean change for users,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nd even though (the rec centre) is aging, a lot of people have had an affinity for that facility. But over the last few months we鈥檝e done a lot of communicating with our users to let them know about programs that will be available to them and the timing of the aquafit classes that are so popular 鈥� you know, when they鈥檒l be held at Guildford, the schedules for those programs and classes.鈥�

鈥� RELATED STORY, from Oct. 4: 鈥榊ou鈥檙e breaking up a society,鈥� resident says as North 性视界传媒 pool closure looms.

The mural that hangs near the hot tub at North 性视界传媒 Recreation Centre. (contributed photo: Dave Bains)

As a frequent pool user at North 性视界传媒 rec, Bains is particularly fond of a mural 鈥� of orcas in the waters off the B.C. coast, painted on sheets of plywood 鈥� that hangs on a wall near the hot tub. He said it was created by a lifeguard named Veronica Bordeira who, according to Bains, has since died in an ATV crash in a forest outside Cranbrook.

Three years ago, when the pool was closed for maintenance and the mural showed signs of wear, Bains insisted to facility management that the mural be protected.

鈥淭hey had professional guys come in and this is now covered with acrylic,鈥� Bains said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been here a long time 鈥� 15 years, maybe more.鈥�

Fittingly, Bains said, the mural will be removed from the wall and given to the artist鈥檚 parents.

鈥淰eronica showed me how to draw some things, she was so nice,鈥� he added. 鈥淚鈥檝e drawn this mural in a book I have, so I have the memories.鈥�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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