Rec AGM draws record crowd

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By Jim Mosher
Friday April 15, 2005

New Beach rec board members include Frank Figler (back row, from left), Harry Alberg, Gary Fitzpatrick, Rob McMillan; and Amanda Mosher (front, from left) Lori Frejek, Nadine Semenchuk and Lynne Pawluk.

Interlake Spectator — WINNIPEG BEACH -- A record crowd was on-hand Wednesday evening to reassert their ownership of this resort town’s 25-year-old recreation centre.
Mired in debt, the rec centre has spent the last months facing closure. But its volunteer board struggled through the latest hockey and fire skating season, managing to keep a lid on a debt that now sits at $95,309.
The annual general meeting of the membership of the Winnipeg Beach Municipal Recreation Centre Inc. Wednesday evening attracted 60, more than any meeting in the centre’s history.
And, for the first time in recent memory, a full board of nine people was nominated. Only three directors on the former board -- long-time president Larry Moore, Lynne Pawluk and Amanda Mosher -- were returned, after Arnold Eyford, Tony Pimentel and Michelle Thompson declined their nominations.
Filling out the new board are Harry Alberg, Frank Figler, Gary Fitzpatrick, Lori Frejek, Rob McMillan and Nadine Semenchuk.
Emotions ran high at times, particularly during discussion of a contentious amendment to the incorporated centre’s constitution. The amendment would have given a voting seat to an appointed town councillor.
Prior to being nominated as a new board member, Semenchuk, who was involved with a recreation board in Winnipeg, said having a councillor on a rec board is a non-starter. “We certainly wouldn’t have had a councillor from the City of Winnipeg sitting on our board,” she said. “We wouldn’t even think that. It would be totally in conflict. The town council is an entity. This [rec board] is an entity. They [councillors] can come out to a meeting, but they shouldn’t have a vote.”
Semenchuk’s comments drew loud applause.
Town councillors Sonya Dodd, who is council’s current appointee to the rec board, Dick Cain and Daryl Carry were on-hand, but sat mutely during most of the meeting.
The amendment to give voting rights to a town appointee was voted down.
Before nominations closed, Moore mulled over whether he would accept his nomination. He decided to accept but only with the proviso that he would not sit as president.

“I will sit on the board,” he said after the meeting. “I will try to stay on for a full year, but there are no guarantees. I will sit as past president.”
There wasn’t a formal election because the full slate of nine directors was nominated.
With six new faces on the board, there’s new life to a board that hasn’t changed its complexion for years.

PIMENTEL PLAN PANNED

While much of the meeting hinged on housekeeping matters, an ambitious proposal from Pimentel generated heated debate.
Pimentel said that the future of the rec centre facility on Hamilton Ave. hinges on a wholesale redesign that would eliminate the winter-time ice surface in favour of a multi-functional indoor soccer pitch.
He presented a detailed plan outlining his plan, but loss of the rec centre’s ice was one few were prepared to entertain.
Pimentel said the rec centre is suffering financially because its programming does not appeal to most people.
“The majority of people in Winnipeg Beach are aged 19-55,” he said, as he introduced his detailed plan. “We’re missing that whole group. It’s very important that we have activities for the whole community -- not just the kids. With a multi-purpose facility, we can do that.”
The Pimentel proposal included an indoor soccer pitch that could be used for a variety of activities, including badminton, flag football, indoor lawn bowling, aerobic classes and volleyball. He also said an indoor walking club would be an asset.
“And the most opportune time to get expanded use is during the winter,” he said.
As it became clear that Pimentel’s plan required eliminating the ice surface, many balked.
But he persisted. He said his “very conservative” projections indicate that up to 250 people would participate in indoor soccer alone, compared to the 29 youngsters now involved in hockey and the 42 figure skaters who called the rec centre home ice this winter.
He said skaters could go to Gimli, while the Beach provided other kinds of targetted programs.
“Personally, I would hate to see the ice leave the rink,” said hockey mom Debbie Benson.
Pimentel was clearly disappointed by the reception to his proposal. “I’ve taken the time; I’ve looked at the numbers,” he said defensively. “Nobody else has come up with a plan.”
In that, he was right.
Members decided to refer Pimentel’s proposal to the new board, which may appoint a committee to review it.
New board member Fitzpatrick welcomed Pimentel’s effort, but suggested after the meeting that the board must look to inclusion. Excluding existing users is not the answer, he said.