Centre for Health, Wellness & Sport coming to Red Deer College
Exciting times are ahead at Red Deer College as initial site work is set to begin this fall on the long-awaited Centre for Health, Wellness & Sport.
When complete, the Centre will provide state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces and a comprehensive venue for athletic, recreational and community activities. It will feature teaching and learning space for Health Sciences, Kinesiology and Sport Studies; a 1,200-seat gymnasium; fitness and training space; an Olympic-sized ice surface; gathering spaces for students, staff and faculty.
“It is truly an exciting time to be the president of the Students’ Association of Red Deer College,” said Maryanne McGrath, Association president, “and I must recognize the hard work of former Association presidents Martin Cruz and Bailey Daines as they spoke for students during the planning stages of this project. Student leaders carry the duty of honouring the decisions of past students, an obligation to build on those decisions in the present and the responsibility of anticipating the needs of future students.
“A part of those needs includes the development of new programs, new opportunities and new facilities for the student body of the future.”
The Centre will enhance student life and help foster both physical and mental wellness, said McGrath. It will encourage students to choose Red Deer College, drawing students from near and far.
Years of planning
The Centre for Health, Wellness & Sport has been in the works for a long time. Red Deer College President Joel Ward said in many ways the College has been planning for this expansion for the past 40 years.
“This facility is more than just a building, it is about ensuring a bold, forward-focused future,” said Ward, during a recent press conference.
Key considerations in the planning process for the new building were the College’s long-term vision. It is expected the Centre will help to shape the future of the College and position RDC to continue expanding its role in driving the region.
“This facility is essential for RDC to continue to meet the needs of our community including achieving our long-term vision of becoming a polytechnic university,” said Shelley Ralston, Chair of the RDC Board of Governors.
Ground breaking
The building phase of the Centre will begin with a ground breaking ceremony in October. Initial site work is scheduled to begin this fall with construction beginning in early 2016. The project is set to be completed in Fall 2018. Once completed the Centre will host a number of events in the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
“The Students’ Association is proud to partner with the City of Red Deer, Central Alberta and Red Deer College,” said McGrath. “We look forward to hosting Canada’s youth from coast to coast to coast. As excited as we are for the 2019 Canada Winter Games, we are just as excited for the days after. The opportunities this addition to our campus will offer future students are endless.”