Veiner Centre fees clarified by city

By Gillian Slade on July 14, 2018.

The City has clarified that an annual basic membership, at the newly renovated and expanded Veiner Centre, is $100. A membership that includes access to the fitness centre located in Strathcona Centre is $300. --NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE

gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade

New membership fees at the Veiner Centre have been clarified by the city.

The current annual membership of $40 will increase to $100 a year. This gives the member access to the Veiner Centre and the Strathcona Centre with the exception of the fitness centre.

If you would like to use the fitness centre, located in the Strathcona Centre, you will pay $300 a year. You will need a Veiner Centre membership for $100 plus pay another $200 for the fitness membership for a total of $300. A one-time fitness centre access card of $10 (refundable upon return of the card) will also apply to those buying the $300 membership.

The city says you will not be allowed to pay for only a fitness membership without the Veiner Centre membership.

“The Fitness Centre will include exercise equipment, such as treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights,” said Carrie Wall, superintendent operations support, Community Development Department, in an email. “All other activities, such as ping pong, billiards, yoga classes, are held in other areas throughout the Veiner and Strathcona Centres and are included in the general membership.”

The fitness centre will also offer optional extras such a personal fitness program design for $50, and a full fitness assessment for $100. This is simply an option for people, said Wall.

Membership at the Veiner Centre is for anyone more than 50 years old.

An annual pass at the Family Leisure Centre is $522 for those more than 60 years old and at Crestwood Recreation it is $324.

The 150 per cent increase in general membership has sparked debate. Mayor Ted Clugston has said along with the beautifully renovated and expanded building, the fees reflect additional requirements including a full-time employee when anyone is using the fitness equipment.

This is not an insurance requirement, said the city.

“All city fitness facilities, including the Family Leisure Centre and the Crestwood Recreation Centre, are only open to the public when a staff member is on site,” said Wall. “The city considers this to be best practice, helping us to safeguard the health and safety of our patrons and minimize any liability for the city.”

Five years ago, the Veiner Centre on Woodman Avenue was so damaged by flood waters that it stood empty. Debate ensued about whether it could be refurbished or if a new building should be constructed at a different location.

See Re-opening, Page A2

In February 2016, council approved a budget of $11.6 million for refurbishment and expansion. Construction work commenced in the spring of 2017. There was another $350,000 in the capital budget for planning and design, bringing the grand total to $11.95 million.

An official celebration and grand re-opening of the Veiner Centre takes place July 24 from 2:30-4:30 p.m., with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by self-guided tours and refreshments.

The first full day of operations at the Veiner Centre will be July 25.

New hours of operation at the Veiner Centre are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and on Sundays noon to 4 p.m.

Renovations at Strathcona Centre will commence Monday and are expected to be complete by July 24. The opening hours there will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.

Facilities at the Veiner Centre include: multi-purpose rooms for cards and table games, games rooms for darts, shuffle board and billiards, a crafts room, club, dining room, commercial kitchen, club storage area and meeting rooms.

At Strathcona Centre there will be exercise classes, dancing, table tennis, pickle ball, floor curling, bocci, 50+ club and indoor lawn bowling.