‘People have been coming here for generations to swim, to sign up for exercise classes, to get essential services and programs,’ said Vecova CEO Kelly Holmes-Binns
A Calgary charity, Vecova, which provides a wide array of services for people with disabilities, plans to close its main facility and head office in 2025.
Built in 1969, Vecova’s location on 33rd Street N.W. was deemed beyond its life cycle, requiring costly repairs. About 30 per cent of the building is already closed due to poor condition.
The cost to bring the facility up to current standards would be 75 per cent of the cost to construct a new building entirely, the organization said in a Wednesday press release.
“It’s devastating, this is a heartbreaking announcement to make,” said Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO of Vecova in a Wednesday interview.
Beyond losing the “special facility” that Vecova has been for the past 55 years, she said 15 per cent of their staff, about 100 people, will be laid off.
Holmes-Binns said the estimated cost for a new facility in 2022 was $122 million, a number that will have most certainly increased since then.
Last year, the facility welcomed more than 350,000 visitors through its doors for services like aquatics, health and fitness, housing services, mental health services, employment services and social enterprise, community and advocacy.
“Despite our best efforts with our aging facility, the time has come where it simply isn’t sustainable to operate,” said Holmes-Binns. “We are taking this responsible step now to provide ample notice to all who use and visit our building.”
She added that the building has surpassed its intended 50-year lifespan, now serving year 55.
‘Great loss to the community’
When asked about the closure Wednesday, Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said she was “heartbroken,” having found out about it a few weeks ago as area councilor.
Sharp said her own kids had swim lessons there and her own elderly parents use the facility.
“To know the services they provide to many Calgarians — not just ones in the community — which is also heartbreaking because this is the third time Vecova has had the opportunity to apply for grants through the provincial and federal governments.”
Sharp added that the city earmarked funding to support renovations, but it was decided after not receiving federal grants to close the facility.
The facility is on City of Calgary-owned land, and both Holmes-Binns and Sharp did not speak about any plans for the property yet.
Holmes-Binns noted that the facility will continue business as usual until next June.
Among the services most affected by the closure will be aquatics, health and fitness, and social enterprise operations.
Aquatics and fitness programming at the facility is set to continue until end of June next year, while the bottle depot will cease operations next fall with staff vacating the building at that time.
“Vecova is currently working with the City of Calgary to determine next steps for the building and site,” read the release.
Holmes-Binns said they are actively seeking a new building and will continue offering services like housing facilities for people with disabilities as well as its employment, mental health, Wayfinder and training programs.
“It’s going to be a great loss to the community,” she said. “People have been coming here for generations to swim, to sign up for exercise classes, to get essential services and programs.
“The toughest thing to replace is going to be the sense of inclusion and belonging that people with varying abilities have when they come for aquatics and recreation programming here,” said Holmes-Binns.
— With files from Scott Strasser