Collingwood Sport & Recreation Alliance Volunteers Address Town Council

During the July 24, 2023 meeting, Dave Epp, the president of Collingwood Minor Hockey Association, and Trevor Littlejohns, the vice president of Collingwood Girls Hockey Association, both volunteers for the Collingwood Sport and Recreation Alliance, presented to the councillors, stressing the necessity of a multi-use recreation facility in Collingwood.

Collingwood councillors are in agreement about the urgent need for a multi-use recreation facility in the town. A group of sports organizations, known as the Collingwood Sports and Recreation Alliance, came together to advocate for the facility, emphasizing the importance of having a central venue to meet the diverse sporting needs of the community. They argued that scheduling is currently a challenge, and the lack of such a facility affects local families who have children involved in multiple sports. However, when considering the first step towards a new facility, the council faced differing opinions on whether to collaborate with the Town of The Blue Mountains for a joint feasibility study. Some councillors expressed concerns that focusing on a regional approach might delay the process of getting a facility specifically for Collingwood, while others believed that partnering with a neighboring municipality could lead to cost efficiencies and additional funding opportunities. The matter will be revisited at a future council meeting for a final vote.

In the meeting, the director of parks, recreation, and culture highlighted that residents from both Collingwood and The Blue Mountains already use each other's recreation facilities, indicating the potential benefits of a joint approach. However, some councillors questioned the priority of a regional facility over addressing the pressing need within Collingwood itself. The lack of a clear majority vote resulted in the matter being brought forward again without a committee recommendation, leaving the decision about collaboration and further studies for a multi-use recreation facility to be determined in future discussions.