Melody makers Oak Bay grad set to sing Upstairs Page A5
NEWS: Oak Bay reviews mutual fire aid /A3 ARTS: Hotel’s Johnny Cash tribute rocks /A10 SPORTS: CW women face semi-final contest /A16
OAK BAYNEWS Friday, October 23, 2015
www.oakbaynews.com
Nelly Stock feels she owns this water after 38 years working as a lifeguard and swim and fitness instructor at the Oak Bay Rec Centre. The centre celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend with 1975 drop-in rates. Christine van Reeuwyk/ Oak Bay News
Oak Bay Rec Centre parties like it’s 1975 Clothing and admission prices reflect opening day 40 years ago Christine van Reeuwyk Oak Bay News
The 1975 garb comes out this weekend at Oak Bay Rec Centre as the community celebrates four decades of community recreation. Among them will be the longest-serving staffer, Nelly Stock. “(The rec centre) opened in October
(1975) and I came 18 months later,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I was here for a week already before I filled out my application.” When Stock moved to the Victoria area from Chilliwack, it didn’t take long for someone at the centre to learn she had all her swim instructor credentials and recruit her. Since then she hasn’t ventured far from the community pool, even during her career as a registered nurse. She’s acted as a lifeguard, swim teacher, fitness leader and these days does primarily one-on-one swim instruction. When she arrived, the nearly-new pool was state-of-the-art for its time, complete
“I enjoy my work. When I get up and think, ‘I have to go to work,’ I know it’s time to quit. It’s nice to get paid for a hobby.” – Nelly Stock with adjacent tot pool designed to get younger children into the water. “The first big change was the big blue slide in the ’80s,” she said. While that one went off without a hitch, the second slide created some controversy in the ’90s. For safety and space reasons, they had to lose the diving board.
FairfieldSkinClinic Beauty with a Light
Touch
TM
“Some people didn’t really like it,” Stock said. “Now I don’t think too many people remember the diving board.” Many current residents will remember, or have heard of, the big renovations more than a decade ago. The project consisted of a new fitness facility, pool renovations, new family change rooms and new administration area. Throughout the work, residents utilized the facilities. “That was a big change, it took months, but it was worth it,” Stock said. “Most people think it has added to the rec centre.” PLEASE SEE: Centre sees many changes, Page A3
Dr Julian A Hancock FRCP(C): Cosmetic Dermatologist
Specializing in fast, effective, natural skin rejuvenation. Small nuisance skin lesions removed quickly & cleanly, often in one visit.
• BOTOX • JUVEDERM • MOLES • LASER SMOOTHING • HYDRAFACIAL
Victoria's Cosmetic Dermatology Centre Frequent Specials! Check our website. 1494 Fairfield Rd, Victoria
778 432 3333
Fairfieldskinclinic.com