Rec centre gets boost
By Chris Simon

Innisfil mayor Brian Jackson, left, student mayor Andrew Whittaker and several members of the Innisfil Community Events Corporation were on hand for a check presentation at the town council chambers recently. The corporation donated $28,000 to the Innisfil Recreation Centre.

The Innisfil Recreation Centre has reached another milestone.

A fundraising committee for the centre officially reached its $3.5 million goal, says mayor Brian Jackson.

"We have achieve our $3.5 million objective," he said, speaking during a town council meeting recently. "It's significant. They surprised me, I didn't think we'd ever hit that amount of money."

Jackson made the announcement moments after the Innisfil Community Events Corporation, which hosts events like the Santa Claus Parade, Winterfest and Summerfest, presented council with a $28,000 check for the recreation centre.

The group has pledged a total of $250,000 for the centre, and has raised about $78,000 of that amount so far.

"We're short, but we figure over the next four to five years we'll make our commitment," said events committee representative and deputy mayor Gord Wauchope. "This organization is strictly all volunteers. They do a lot of fundraising for different events.

"They put on the Santa Claus Parade, Winterfest and Summerfest. We're also looking at doing some concerts this year for the grand opening of the new rec centre."

The centre's large ice rink opened last month. The smaller rink is scheduled to open in mid-January, while the remaining portion of the complex is expected to be completed in the spring.

Once finished, the recreation centre will feature a twin-pad arena, aquatics facility, gymnasium, fitness room, and community space.

It is located on Innisfil Beach Road, near the South Simcoe Police North Division office and the new Town Hall administration building.

Jackson says the events corporation has worked hard to raise money for the recreation centre.

"It's a challenge for everyone to make money," he said.

"It's a lot of money to be made and the commitment of $250,000 is significant to our municipality."