Boys and Girls Club seeks community input to help build aquatics program

In light of some recent changes, the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of Kingston and Area will be holding an open house, inviting members of the community to help shape their new aquatics programs at the West End Hub.

Citing changes in community needs – particularly following the announcement that the YCMA of Kingston will be closing their west end location – as well as changes to funding models and sources, “the importance of aquatics programs in a community like Kingston cannot be understated,” the BGC said in a press release.

With that in mind, the Club has planned a community-centred open house, inviting stakeholders in aquatics programming in Kingston’s west end and at large to tour the aquatics facilities at their West End Hub. The BGC is inviting those stakeholders and members of the public to help inform their development of a new aquatics program at the West End Hub, which is located at the Frontenac Mall at Bath Road and Centennial Drive.

“This open house is for the public, community leaders and service providers in the aquatics sector within the Kingston Community. The BGC invites representatives of health and wellness agencies serving children, youth, families, adults and seniors, privately-held fitness and health businesses, fitness professionals, and the public,” the BGC said.

For those who have yet to enter the BGC West End Hub, it is hard to imagine the aquatics facilities – or any of the Club’s other outstanding facilities – exist inside the building. But in reality, the pool and aquatics facilities at the West End Hub are already getting a lot of use by those in the community.

“Our West End Hub is equipped with a beautiful aquatics facility. We currently work with the City of Kingston, the Barracudas Swim Club, and the Seniors Centre to deliver programs, and we have more capacity. We need our partners in the community to come on board to help explore new opportunities to serve Kingston’s swimmers,” explained Harold Parsons, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area.

This open house is a great opportunity to see the facilities and speak with those at the BGC about how those facilities can be further utilized to benefit the community, the BGC expressed.

The open house will take place on Thursday, Jun 20, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a drop-in basis at the West End Hub (1300 Bath Road). Though not required, those planning to attend are welcome to RSVP to Morgan Davis at [email protected].

Those who are unable to attend the open house who would like their input included in the discussions can complete the questionnaire available at www.bgckingston.ca/aquatics-survey.

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area, click here.