Latest news with #communitycentres
CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Humidity to make it feel 40 C and higher, heat warning issued for Waterloo region, Guelph and area
Social Sharing People in Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County should expect hot and humid temperatures to start the week. Environment Canada has issued a heat warning that is expected to extend into Tuesday evening. Daytime temperatures will be between 30 C and 33 C, but humidity will make it feel more like 38 C to 42 C. Nighttime lows will bring little release, the warning notes, with lows of between 19 C and 21 C. The hottest conditions are expected on Monday. "Daytime high temperatures are expected to lower on Wednesday, bringing an end to the heat event," the warning says. As of Monday morning, there is also rain in the forecast for Wednesday, which it's expected to be a high of 26 C. The heat warning also reminds people to take extra precautions when it's hot. "Take action to protect yourself and others. Extreme heat can affect everyone's health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day," the warning says. "Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park." Where to cool down Cooling spaces are available in Waterloo region and includes city hall locations, township offices, library branches as well as shopping malls. Also listed as cooling centres are: Cambridge: City hall, all Cambridge Public Library locations, WG Johnson Centre, Region of Waterloo Public Health and Social Services building at 150 Main St. Kitchener: Activia Sportsplex, Breithaupt Centre, Bridgeport Community Centre, Centreville Chicopee Community Centre, Chandler Mowat Community Centre, Country Hills Community Centre, Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, Country Hills Library at 1500 Block Line Rd. and Community Healthcaring K-W at 44 Francis St. S. Waterloo: RIM Park, Albert McCormick Community Centre, Moses Springer Community Centre, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre, Region of Waterloo's Public Health and Social Services at 99 Regina St. S., and Waterloo Public Library branches. North Dumfries: Ayr branch of the Region of Waterloo Public Library, North Dumfries Community Complex. Wellesley: Linwood, St. Clements and Wellesley branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library. Wilmot: Baden, New Dundee and New Hamburg branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library and the Wilmot Recreation Complex. Woolwich: Bloomingdale, Breslau, Elmira, and St. Jacobs branches of the Region of Waterloo Public Library, the Breslau Community Centre and the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira. These spaces are open as cooling centres during regular business hours. People who are exposed to extreme heat may feel: Dizziness or fainting. Nausea or vomiting. Headache. Rapid breathing and heartbeat. Extreme thirst. Decreased urination. Region of Waterloo Public Health recommends people drink plenty of liquids, especially water, and go in the shade to get out of the sun. If someone is experiencing heat stroke, that's a medical emergency and 911 should be called. The person should be moved to a cool place, fan them and apply cold water to large areas of skin or clothing. Don't leave people or pets in vehicles Temperatures inside a vehicle can quickly become hotter than the temperature outside and cracking a window does not help, police say in reminding people not to leave anyone in a vehicle. "If you see an animal in a hot car in distress and are concerned the animal's life is in danger, call 911 immediately, as this is an emergency. Do not attempt to enter a vehicle in these situations," the Waterloo Regional Police Service has said during previous heat waves this summer.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Community centres in Winnipeg looking for updated plan to improve operations in the future
The Southdale Community Centre is pictured in Winnipeg on May 8, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) A new plan is being presented to city council to ensure the success of community centres throughout Winnipeg continues into the future. Council's executive policy committee is set to discuss a report on July 8 from the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres (GCWCC), which is proposing a new governance board model as well as annual funding that would be used to hire staff. The new proposal, called Plan 2045, would see the creation of governance boards that would be responsible for directing staff on operations at the facilities as well as programs. The current model relies on volunteers to be on the board and help with the operational side of community centres. The report highlights volunteer numbers for community centres have dropped by nearly half compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic – from 14,314 to 7,805. 'The community centre model was established in the 50s and 60s, when single income households and less busy lifestyles contributed to greater volunteer time and commitment,' the report reads. 'Today, many community centres struggle to attract new volunteers and those already involved, have been for many years, with increasing demands in running and maintaining aging facilities, delivering programs and meeting administrative and financial accountability requirements.' To implement this proposed governance change, the GCWCC is recommending an annual grant of $250,000, which would be used to hire staff, all while lessening the need for as many volunteers. 'It was also identified that clarity and formalized roles and responsibilities to improve governance are required. A key initiative to address this is the establishment of management agreements between the city and each community centre to ensure clear roles and responsibilities. This involves standardized agreements covering facility use, responsibilities of the city and community centre, and other key terms.' Implementing the proposals in the plan would take time. The plan notes four phases for implementation would take place, with the first phase – which is the governance review and reform – being done by 2027. The GCWCC would report back to council in June 2027 with an update on how Plan 2045 is working and then provide guidance for the next budget.
CBC
03-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Winnipeg community centres hope new wage subsidy helps boost flagging volunteer numbers
Social Sharing As Winnipeg community centres struggle to attract and retain volunteers, the city hopes a new grant and shift to a new governance model can help take pressure off over-burdened staff. The number of volunteers working at Winnipeg's 63 community centres has dropped nearly by half from pre-COVID-19 levels of more than 14,300, to just over 7,800, according to a report from the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres, an arm's-length organization that works to facilitate operations for the city's community centres. At the same time, many community centres say they lack funding to pay for staff to help with operations and programming. A new report to be presented to city council's executive policy committee next week recommends a new $250,000 annual grant to create a programming and wage subsidy program that would help community centres hire operational and programming staff. The goal is to transition volunteer community centre boards from "working boards" — where board members are responsible for all aspects of running facilities, including maintenance, volunteer recruitment and programming — to a governance model where board members provide direction and oversight to paid staff who lead facility operations and program delivery. "The [current] community centre model that dates back to, you know, the late '50s and '60s, where mom and dad would go down and run the canteen and they'd have programming … and people would get involved just because of their proximity to the community centre," Lora Meseman, executive director of the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres, said in a Wednesday interview. About one-third of the city's community centres lack full-time managers, Meseman said. Volunteerism rates have dropped across the country, and the motivations for volunteering have changed, she said. While in the past, people offered their time out of a sense of duty or community commitment, volunteers today are often looking for personal fulfilment, skill development or social connections, said Meseman. At the same time, accountability requirements from the City of Winnipeg have become more complicated, adding to the burden volunteer boards must carry. "We see a lot more community members wanting to participate in events, volunteering two or three hours, rather than getting involved long term. So how do we adjust that?" Meseman said. The council developed a 20-year action plan, called Plan 2045, which aims to gradually transform the city's community centres to the new model. It would also clarify roles and responsibilities for volunteers, and increase City of Winnipeg supports to help boards meet their obligations. Board amalgamations considered Although the plan does not call for closing any of the city's community centres, Meseman says part of the solution could be to merge boards from nearby centres, creating a single board to oversee multiple facilities. Some Winnipeg community centres already follow that model, including Valour Community Centre. It runs three facilities — Isaac Brock, Orioles and Clifton (in the Sargent Park area). General manager Liz Jackimec says attracting and retaining volunteers is a "huge challenge" and a "constant struggle." "People don't have the time or they don't understand that … how you improve your community centres, and your community, is by volunteering," she said. "That sense of ownership, of belonging to a community centre, has really gone down in the last … 10 years or so." All community centre buildings are owned by the city, and receive funding based on a formula that takes into account a number of factors, including the building size and the amount of programming. That money pays for utilities and basic maintenance, but not staff, which is why many community centre programs include fees to participate, Meseman said. "So it would be ideal to have programming staff and to have those doors open, have community have access to the facility, without having to pay fees to attend the facility," she said. The council's action plan would be implemented in phases, starting with a governance review and shifting community centre boards to the new model, with the first assessment completed by 2027. Under the plan, the city would also establish a regular assessment process to assess the health and risk level of each community centre, related to governance, finances, programming and the facilities themselves.
CTV News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Local Canada Day celebrations
Tuesday's Canada Day celebrations start at 12 p.m. in London, with live music, food and games for kids at Dundas Place. The party moves to Harris Park for more festivities at 7 p.m. Fireworks will go off at 10 p.m. All the events are free of charge. Free swimming and other recreational activities will be held at community centres and other venues across the city.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Critics weigh in as Ottawa eyes new criminal sanctions near schools, religious and community spaces
Mixed reviews emerge for Ottawa's plan to create new criminal sanctions aimed at preventing tension around schools, places of worship and community centres.
