THUNDER BAY — Residents are getting a chance to tell the City of Thunder Bay how they feel about their neighbourhood community centre.
The city is looking for feedback from users of any of nine community centres:
- Current River
- North End
- North McIntyre
- Oliver Road
- South Neebing
- Vickers Heights
- Volunteer Pool
- West Arthur
- West Thunder
From now until May 30, an online survey and opportunity to submit comments is available on the city's Get Involved website.
The results will be used to determine how citizens utilize community centres and what, if any, improvements they'd like to see.
Paul Burke, the city's sport and community development supervisor, said the information is necessary to update the seven-year-old recreation facilities master plan.
"We recognize that community centres play an important role in our recreation service delivery system. So we really want to get a handle on what's working . . . and what we should be investing in in the future."
The survey will also be taken into consideration by city staff as they work on the provincially-legislated Asset Management Plan.
Participants are asked to respond to a series of questions regarding their use of community centres, their degree of satisfaction with the facilities, and barriers that may currently limit their participation.
Burke noted that in a city as geographically diverse as Thunder Bay, community centres aren't all the same.
"There are some that are semi-rural, there are some in the centre of the city, and they sort of play different roles," he said, citing the example of more rural locations that play a particularly important role in delivering recreation in the outskirts of the community.
In addition to the online survey for the general public, city staff will consult with registered community centre user groups and with community centre boards.
Paper copies of the survey are available as of May 8 at city hall and all community centres.
City council will receive a report summarizing all the feedback from public engagement.
