15 years of promoting healthy...
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332015 Annual Report
15 years of promoting healthy lifestyles
2015 ANNUAL REPORT
11 15th Anniversary
Westside 2015 Annual Report
Westside Regional Recreation Society is on a mission to enrich the
health and wellness of our communities by providing the highest
quality recreation facilities, programs and services at Westside
Recreation Centre.
We are a charitable organization committed to incorporating healthy
activity into daily lives, offering world class recreation solutions,
welcoming the contributions of community members to our work, and
serving people of all ages.
In 2015, we celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of our grand opening.
Our continued success provides a model of recreation for Calgary,
Alberta and the world.
Our Mission
Promoting community through high quality and accessible recreational
facilities, programs and services.
Our VisionTo enrich the wellbeing of every person in our community.
Our Values
Community, Diversity, Accessibility, Safety, Financial Independence,
Quality, Volunteerism.
442015 Annual Report
Fifteen years ago, after years dedicated to planning, organizing, fundraising and construction, Westside Regional
Recreation Society celebrated the grand opening of Westside Recreation Centre. The mission was simple: to
enhance a community through high quality and accessible leisure facilities, programs and services.
Though the Society’s leaders were filled with optimism, even they could not have predicted Westside’s
extraordinary success. Soon after opening the doors, the centre would be operating at capacity and planning for
the next phase of construction to meet the growing demands.
Today, Westside is busy and as popular as ever. Members and guests remain at historically high levels. Programs
expanded once again, and the number of volunteers and the hours they contribute have grown as well. Each year,
new records are set as Westside continues to be a vital resource in the community. This is truly an anniversary
of joyful celebration.
This year, we completed the final year of the five-year strategic plan set into motion in 2011. A roadmap was
established to be a leading edge facility, aim for staffing excellence, serve our youth, and engage our stakeholders.
We are happy to report that all goals have been met or exceeded, and Westside remains in a strong financial
position. Our facilities and programs are highly rated, there is quality and depth in our staff team, we have
successfully welcomed youth, and we continue to strengthen important partnerships with the City of Calgary,
Calgary Stampede and the Caravan Breakfast Committee, and others. We have already begun to plan for the next
five years and are excited by our new directions and where they will lead us.
On behalf of the board, we gratefully acknowledge the outstanding leadership and vision of those, our neighbours
and friends, who worked to build and open Westside Recreation Centre. They fulfilled their vision of enriching
the lives of those in our communities, and gave us a solid foundation upon which we continue to build.
We would not, and could not, be where we are today without the time and talent of our Board of Directors. Their
contributions have kept Westside on the path to success since the very beginning. We are also grateful for the
talented staff and volunteers who continually strive to ensure Westside facilities, programs and service are on
the leading edge.
Finally, we are ever thankful for the members and guests who make Westside a part of their lives each day. We
deeply appreciate their patronage, and pledge to continue enriching the fabric of our neighbourhoods for years
to come.
Anniversaries are for looking back, celebrating, and committing to renewal. As we look forward, Westside’s
future looks brighter than ever.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Sheri EppBoard Chair
Norma-Jean HoggManaging Director
55 15th Anniversary
NUMBER OF VISITS
2001
2015
476,192
1,545,023
NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIPS
2001 2015
8,312 14,133
FACILITY SPACE
2001
175,000 FT2
2015
240,000 FT2
A Leading Edge Facility
offering recreation for yesterday, today
and tomorrow
662015 Annual Report
In the early morning hours of May
25, 2000, Pat Brennan stood in line,
determined to be the very first annual
member of Westside Recreation Centre.
The Brennan family are proud Members
#0001, and have remained members for
every year since.
The Brennans’ story starts long before that day, however. Residents
of Strathcona Park, Pat and Tracy were among those who pitched in
from the beginning to help build Westside Recreation Centre. They
were involved with the feasibility study, became volunteers, attended
fundraising events and made charitable donations to ensure Westside
would be built. Over the years, they have worked on the board,
volunteered during the expansion project and provided their support
in innumerable ways. Their four children have grown up here.
“We feel so fortunate to live in a community that has Westside at its
centre,” says Tracy. “It’s been like a second home to us over the years,
from skating to swimming and wall climbing, to hockey games, parties
and kids’ playgroups. Westside has been the place for so many of our
family fun times.”
The Brennan family have celebrated a number of other firsts at
Westside. Daughter Zoë’s sixth birthday was the first pool party
held at Westside. Pat’s hockey team played the first-ever game in
Westside’s arena. Son Luke had his first volunteer position and part-
time job at Westside, too.
“I can’t believe it’s been 15 years,” says Pat. “Westside’s grand opening
was such a great time.” He adds, “And, our hockey team has played
the same ice time every week since Westside opened.”
Happy Anniversary, Westside and Brennan family. Here’s to many
more.
First Family
“Our hockey team has played the same ice
time every week since Westside opened.”
-Pat Brennan Pat & Tracy Brennan
77 15th Anniversary
Even though Jasmine is just 19 years old,
she has been a Westside member since the
very beginning. Jasmine and her family
signed up in 2000 when the centre first
opened, and she’s been here ever since.
Jasmine Wong was four years old when she began skating lessons.
In the months and years that followed, she took swimming lessons,
learned to climb, participated in summer day camps, and was involved
in numerous other programs.
“I think I was at Westside almost every single day when I was young,”
says Jasmine. “It has been such an integral part of growing up for
me, and it still is. Westside is more than just a recreation centre, it’s
a common meeting ground where people of all ages can bond while
learning and bettering their health and wellbeing.”
When she was 14, Jasmine signed up to volunteer at Westside. Soon
she was working as a gym monitor for badminton games and in the
climbing wall helping young climbers. After three years of volunteer
work, Jasmine joined Westside’s staff team working in the gym on
evenings and weekends. Along the way she’s learned a lot, developed
lasting skills, and made friendships that will last a lifetime.
“Some of the most memorable things about my childhood are the staff
and volunteers at Westside who created a safe and fun environment
for us to enjoy,” says Jasmine. “Now I’m that person. I’m responsible
for creating that place where others can make their own memories.
It’s come full circle.”
Jasmine is in her second year at University of Calgary pursuing a
degree in nursing. She will continue giving back to her community in
her work life, and use her experiences to best provide for the patients
she serves.
When asked what her time at Westside means to her, Jasmine says,
“Westside is truly the heart of our community. It has played an
immense role in making me who I am today. I’ve learned so much,
have been given tremendous opportunities, and have been supported
as a person on every level. When I come to work, I don’t just feel like
I’m here to do a job, I feel like I’m one of many family members.”
Where the Heart Is
Jasmine Wong
882015 Annual Report
NUMBER OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
CERTIFIEDYOUTH USERS
CHILDCAREVISITS
2001
6,196
2015
27,100
2001 2015 2001
15,500
2015
20,614
*
* Youth Wellness Centre opened in 2010
Serving Our Youth
the future leaders of our communities
7,8730
99 15th Anniversary
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
VOLUNTEER HOURS
2001
2001
4,700 HOURS
2015
2015
11,003 HOURS
Staffing Excellence
through leadership and innovation
10102015 Annual Report
Westside’s senior management team
knows a thing or two about the Centre’s
history. After all, every one of them has
been here since the doors opened.
Recruitment started before and during construction for a team of
senior managers whose foresight, experience and programming
ability would kickstart the new centre and get things off on the right
foot. Board members began with the managing director, whose input
would shape Westside’s operational design. Over the coming months,
a group of the most innovative leaders in their respective fields were
hand-selected to set a new standard for recreation service delivery.
“We wanted to establish a culture of job ownership and pride from
the very beginning,” says Norma-Jean Hogg, Managing Director. “We
searched for managers who were willing to take the risk to be a part of
this new delivery model, who had an absolute commitment to service
and believed in the vision of something different for Calgarians. We
didn’t want to just meet expectations, we wanted to far exceed them.”
Fifteen years later, they are still here. They’ve experienced the
excitement of opening a new centre, growing pains in the early years,
working at capacity when demand outstripped physical space, a major
facility expansion and everything between. In a time where long-
term leadership and loyalty is increasingly rare, Westside’s team has
provided a strong foundation for its continued growth and success.
“Westside’s management team has a real synergy,” says Chris
Strutzenberger, Manager of Children’s Programs and HR. “We don’t
just oversee our areas, we work together to create our clients’ overall
experience throughout the facility. Westside members and users can
count on our continuity in high quality programs and services.”
Managers are universally excited for the opportunities and challenges
the coming years will bring. They are our strength at the very core.
Core Strength
Then Now
1111 15th Anniversary
Brenda MenghettiFounding Board Chair
Westside Recreation Centre began like
many great places, with a vision.Neighbours in newly developed west Calgary gathered around kitchen
tables and talked about a place where their kids could play, a social
gathering place, a center of life and vibrancy in their rapidly growing
communities. Enter then-alderman Dave Bronconnier and a group of
talented volunteers, and Westside Regional Recreation Society was
born.
Starting with five acres and some seed money, they knew they had
a long way to go before their vision could be realized. Thousands
of flyers would be delivered seeking skilled professionals who could
lead the charge to help build a multi-dimensional recreation complex
that would meet the needs of their neighbours and families. The first
meeting of the Society took place in March 1997.
“My kids were my inspiration,” says Brenda Meneghetti, founding board
chair. “I wanted them, their friends and families in our neighbourhood
to have access to the opportunities a recreation centre could offer.
As we moved through the consultation process, it turned out to be so
much more. From the board directors to those who painted faces at
the fundraisers, everyone got behind the project.”
After consulting with neighbours door-to-door and meeting with
76 stakeholder groups, Westside Recreation Centre was planned to
provide leisure spaces and activities for all ages, allow maximum
flexibility, and be fully self-supporting. The unique partnership they
forged with the City of Calgary would become a model that others
would follow. Three years of rallying, meeting, fundraising, consulting
and building resulted in Westside’s grand opening in November 2000.
“Westside represents far more than just recreation,” says Dave
Bronconnier. “It has become the heartbeat of the community, a hub
of its social and cultural life. Its success is the result of involving
communities right from the beginning and their commitment to
providing something for everyone, for all ages and abilities.”
Thanks to dedicated volunteers, community members who donated
to build the centre, and civic leaders who offered their unwavering
support, Westside serves almost 1.6 million visitors each year.
Westside was built by community. Together, they transformed their
neighbourhoods and the people in them.
Built by Community
“Westside represents far more than just recreation.”
-Dave Bronconnier
12122015 Annual Report
To support the post-secondary To support the post-secondary educational pursuits of its educational pursuits of its
employees, Westside awarded employees, Westside awarded scholarships to:scholarships to:
Mike Barevich – ArenaMike Barevich – Arena
Alyson Birce – AquaticsAlyson Birce – Aquatics
Roxanna Krankowski – Children’s Programs & Roxanna Krankowski – Children’s Programs &
ServicesServices
Connor Macdonald – AquaticsConnor Macdonald – Aquatics
Aaron Prosser – AquaticsAaron Prosser – Aquatics
Nathan Shipley – Customer ServiceNathan Shipley – Customer Service
Colin Spangelo – Children’s Programs & ServicesColin Spangelo – Children’s Programs & Services
James Suh – YouthJames Suh – Youth
Anton Zmushka – YouthAnton Zmushka – Youth
2015
9 STUDENTS$18,750
SINCE 2001
107 STUDENTS$168,200
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
SINCE 2001
$4,881,000
Engaging Our Stakeholders
in meaningful ways
$450,0002015
1313 15th Anniversary
Westside 2015 Board of Directors
Sheri EppBoard Chair
Norma-Jean Hogg Managing Director
Dan LewisDirector
Tony DiMaioPast Chair
Peter BryanDirector
Graham MarjoribanksDirector
Phil IrelandSecretary
Jeff CurranDirector
Nick MawhinneyDirector
Monica WoodwardTreasurer
Dominique GregoireDirector
Keith RockleyDirector
14142015 Annual Report
Summarized Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31
Assets 2015 2014
Current Assets $ 3,594,626 $ 2,895,359
Investments 28,491,606 27,951,985
Capital Assets 22,237,401 22,773,609
$54,323,633 $53,620,953
Liabilities
Current Liabilities $ 1,136,279 $ 923,850
Deferred Revenue 3,678,833 3,573,006
4,815,112 4,496,856
Fund Balances
Invested in Capital Assets 22,237,401 22,773,609
Externally Restricted 5,058,084 4,965,331
Internally Restricted 21,777,942 20,749,756
Unrestricted 435,094 635,401
49,508,521 49,124,097
$54,323,633 $53,620,953
Summarized Statement of Operations and Fund Activity for the year ended August 31 2015 2014
Operations Revenue $11,660,028 $11,658,899
Operations Expenses 10,769,345 10,341,221
Excess Operations Revenue over Expenses 890,683 1,317,678
Investment Income (Net) 588,922 3,381,548
Expansion Funding (Net) 20,115 50,824
Amortization (1,115,296) (1,119,540)
Fund Balance, beginning of year 49,124,097 45,493,587
Fund Balance, end of year $49,508,521 $49,124,097
Audited financial statements are available upon request.
2015 Financials
22 15th Anniversary
2000 69 Street SW
Calgary AB T3H 4V7
403. 531. 5875
www.westsiderec.com