Summerland to kick off community engagement for the Summerland Community Recreation & Health Centre

The District of Summerland has identified the need for the replacement of the Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre and are exploring the inclusion of a Primary Care Health Centre as part of Council’s Strategic Priority.  
 
The District of Summerland completed a procurement process to obtain consulting services to lead a comprehensive community consultation and engagement process and to complete a facility needs assessment. At their meeting on June 8th, Council supported the selection of Carscadden & Lees to commence the first phase of this project. 
 
The proposal from Carscadden & Lees was the highest ranked proposal and this team was awarded the contract.  Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects is a collaborative, full-service architectural studio. Lees & Associates is an engagement and landscape planning and design firm. These firms are bringing together a team of eight professionals specializing in project management, architecture, planning, engagement, recreation facilities and health service delivery. Both firms have extensive experience in aquatic, recreation and health facilities in British Columbia and the Okanagan. 
 
A Memorandum of Understanding between the District of Summerland, School District 67, Interior Health and South Okanagan Division of Family Practice has also been executed. This formal document outlines the expectations of each of the partners as we explore potential development of a joint use facility.  
 
The intention of this collaborative partnership opportunity is to bring key stakeholders together to develop and implement plans for a Community Recreation & Health Centre which addresses recreation and wellness needs from each organization as well as the needs in the community. The partner organizations recognize the potential benefits and efficiencies that can be achieved in collaborating on the development of community health infrastructure in Summerland. 
 
The partner organizations agree that this Centre could be a way to fulfill many community needs including the replacement of the Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre, a new high school gymnasium, clinic space for primary health care teams as well as other emerging needs such a child care spaces, youth services and other health care related needs. The organizations look forward to gaining input from the community about this concept.  
 
“The District of Summerland is very pleased to be leading this collaborative initiative with partners who share our vision to create a healthy and resilient community,” said Mayor Toni Boot. “In September 2019 Council and representatives from our partners introduced this concept to Interior Health and provincial Ministers and received broad support to continue the collaboration. Both the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen and the Penticton Indian Band have written letters of support as well. Now, with the awarding of the contract, the necessary community consultation and engagement piece can begin.” 
 
This critical first phase of this project will begin with asking the community to provide the District of Summerland and partner organizations with a clear understanding of the community’s expectations and needs for the replacement of the Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre as well as the opportunity for collaborative Primary Care and team-based care services. 
 
Please visit the District of Summerland website at www.summerland.ca for updates on this project.