2010 Annual Report for Community, Culture and Recreation Services

2010 in review Investments in our community are paying off. Sport programming on the new outdoor artificial turf facilities at RIM Park will commence in Spring 2011, and the rink at the Public Square was very well used, bringing people to UpTown Waterloo. The rink opened a full month earlier in 2010 due to favorable weather conditions. It has become a destination for many people.

Waterloo was fortunate to have received over $11 million in grants specific to recreation facilities.

Most of our facilities saw significant retrofits. Good planning and cooperation from our neighbours at WLU ensured our Aquatic programs did not suffer while the Swimplex was closed for renovations. We appreciate those of you that ventured to new locations like Moses Springer and WLU to keep active during the summer. Swimming is a great way to stay fit, and is a basic life skill for people living in Canada.

Our Museum continues to flourish with changing exhibits and free admission. Stop by when you have a chance and are at Conestoga Mall. The Museum is located in the Food Court and extended hours are being planned for.

Remember, one of the best ways to support Arts, Culture and Heritage in our community is to participate. Buy a ticket or two to a wonderful performance, find a one of a kind gift by a local artist, take singing lessons or explore your wonderful public art collection. If you need any ideas just check the new and improved Program and Activities Guide at www.waterloo.ca/programguide.

Our elected officials continue to provide clear leadership and support to our efforts on a day to day basis. They remain accessible and responsive to both the community and staff.

In particular, our thanks are extended to the CCRS Advisory Committee members, Christine Cameron, Jim Bolger, Janice Moore, Melanie Garbarz, Rebecca Shaw, Ron McCarville and Sher DiCiccio, for their efforts in bringing the Department closer to the community. The Advisory Committee represents the community perspective on a number of important topics and worked tirelessly to make our City better. They were instrumental in developing and updating a number of policies that Council approved in 2010. They also demonstrated how effective direct community engagement can be. The new CCRS Advisory Committee will continue their efforts.

You will meet some community-minded volunteers in this report. If you bump into one of them at a local coffee shop, please say thanks. They are making a difference.

Please take a minute and read our Annual Report.

As always we would love to hear your feedback.

David Smith General Manager, Community, Culture and Recreation Services

Janice Moore Chair, CCRS Advisory Committee

Active Living and Direct Programs

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

911 EMS Hockey Tournament 16 team participation (14% increase from 2009) Increased donation to Amanda Finch Memorial Bursary and other local charities (84% increase from 2009) Pre-Season Power Skating Camp Consistent support from partnership with KWSC / Twin City Hockey Skating School Online program evaluations conducted with positive results—2011 program enhancements planned to support feedback.

CARL Hosted Community Adult Recreation League play to approximately 8,136 participants.

Day Camps Over 4000 children registered in 2010.

Youth Council 45 volunteer members dedicated over 2000 hours while raising $300 for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and collecting toys for the Tree of Angels.

Indoor Track The track received a new surface in Fall 2010, and still saw 163,600 visitors throughout the year.

CAN-Bike Training A new collaborative initiative offered with the Region of Waterloo, providing 20 participants with a workshop on safe cycling.

Allocation, Booking and Registration

Implemented Subsidy Management software which will improve customer convenience and tracking of registration subsidies provided to families with low incomes.

Upgraded CLASS database to 7.0 in collaboration with IMTS and Finance.

Managed elements involved with HST conversion as it impacted Class database for CCRS staff and customers.

Established review teams to assess customer inquiries for use of City of Waterloo passive parks, and assess CCRS part-time payroll process.

Secured funding to hire a CLASS consultant in 2011 to provide specific module training.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Arts, Culture, Festivals and Events

FESTIVALS With the great summer weather of 2010, Festivals and events enjoyed a very successful year.

UpTown Waterloo Ice Dogs Festival (February) Attendance: 2000 UpTown Country (June) Attendance: 1500 Movies and Music in the Park (July) Attendance: 3500 Summer Concert Series (June –August) Attendance: 540 Increased the number of shows presented at the public square beginning in June instead of July.

12 shows total were offered.

Waterloo Busker Carnival (August) Attendance: 50 000 One of the best carnivals EVER: Great weather, great performances and performers, good mix of vendors; introduction of the midway-Ferris wheel was a hit. Everyone did well and had a great time, and revenue was doubled.

Royal Medieval Faire (September) Attendance: 5000 Wonders of Winter (December) Attendance: 35 000 Opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery.

PUBLIC SQUARE 2010 was the first full year of operations in Waterloo’s Public Square. The growth in the level of activity is evident in the statistics below.

Number of Events Number of Attendees Number of Volunteers Volunteer Hours Partnerships with BIA Members

2009 194

% 2010 Increase 468 241%

42 231

122 912 291%

841

1 063 126%

3 364

4 252 206%

16

33 206%

Many charities and not for profit organizations have benefited from events in The Square. % 2009 2010 Increase Number 12 13 n/a of charities benefiting Money $150,610 $332,932 221% raised

PUBLIC ART Staff completed the juried selection process on two major art commissions linked to new facilities.

Library YMCA will be the site for Jyhling Lee’s “The Origami Goose” RIM Park Premier sports fields will include Carlos Basanta’s “Rein in the Wind”

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

“Aspiring Orchard” by Catherine Paleczny was donated to the City of Waterloo by Momentum Developments at 36 Regina.

Waterloo partnered with Kitchener, Cambridge and The Region to commission a brochure featuring all artworks throughout the community.

COLLABORATIONS Festival and Events staff supported the start up of Spark in the Park—a new festival in September in Waterloo Park. The committee’s mandate is to inspire young people to get involved in social benefit organizations. The outcome was great community building with the organizers, a partnership with university students and the organizers planning to return in 2011.

Attendance – 300

Successful ABC Conference (Arts, Business & Creativity)—Waterloo hosted this annual event, designed to provide business skills to artists, at Waterloo City Centre and at the Button Factory.

More than 120 delegates participated.

Inaugural Culture Days celebration—Waterloo organizations participated in the first year of the national movement to promote the arts as an activity for everyone.

Heritage Services

The Museum experienced a tremendous growth in its first year. It increased its hours of operation, welcomed 5,527 visitors, presented 3 exhibitions, unpacked the entire collection, and increased the size of the collection through donations from the Waterloo Fire Department and 19 individual donors.

The collection now totals over 600 pieces. The Museum also participated in Doors Open Waterloo.

Museum staff assisted Municipal Heritage Committee with adding 31 new properties to its non-designated property listing, and reviewing six applications for alterations to designated buildings.

Magnetic North Theatre Festival—Staff provided significant support for this one-time opportunity to host Canada’s national theatre festival in Kitchener-Waterloo. In addition to providing Council-approved funding, Festival staff served as a resource to the national organization for their local operations in the planning and execution of the festival.

New City of Waterloo Parade Float—Festival and Events staff, in collaboration with other business units, redesigned the float to celebrate the Public Square.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Jim Playford

Jim Playford has been volunteering with the City of Waterloo for over fifteen years. Most recently, he was instrumental in organizing a team to bring the Rink to the Public Square through donations and private support, and he counts this as one of his proudest accomplishments in the community. Jim is a Chartered Accountant with a private practice in Waterloo, and his volunteer roles have spanned many organizations,

including Oktoberfest, events, and tournaments.

His first job was as a summer camp counselor at Empire Public School in the early ‘60s. “I learned then that each person, no matter how old, is unique, and there is no end to the process of understanding people.”

His goal is always to motivate other community individuals to stand and

make a difference, and to see the benefits of volunteers’ work to young and old.

Jim is inspired by the example of his parents, and by his family. He’s always been a team player, and he says, “I treat each person as I would want to be treated.”

His message to everyone is, “You can make a difference!”

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

55+ Team

Collaborated with Parkwood Senior Suites to provide an offsite location for 2 new fitness and yoga programs. Additional classes will be offered in 2011.

Recruited 3 additional office volunteers.

Participated in the annual OACAO Conference in Guelph in October. Helped plan the tradeshow and increased exposure of programs and services to other members of the association.

55+ Cycling/Hiking Club was formed in July. They now have 102 members. The hiking club meets year round; the cycling club from May to October.

Increase of 125 people in walk-in traffic at the ARC from September to December.

The 55+, Senior Outing Day Program and Home Support Services area continue to work on special events together, such as a successful Volunteer Appreciation event and a Christmas Concert.

Continued to monitor trends for adults and 55+ to meet their social and recreational needs.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Tim Osland

Tim Osland has been volunteering with the City of Waterloo for twelve years, and is currently the President of both Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association and Waterloo Community Council, along with involvement in Ice Dogs, Ontario Summer Games, City of Waterloo Student Advisory Committee, Organized Community Forums, the Philharmonic Choir and Habitat for Humanity.

He is enthusiastic about knowing and working with his neighbours to make our community better, and the beneficial changes he has been able to make happen over the years. His proudest moment was presenting and then championing the idea of the joint YMCA / Library in Laurelwood in 2004, a partnership that will enrich the lives of the west side residents in countless ways when it opens this July. Never satisfied with

the status quo, his current goal is to get as many neighbours as possible engaged in a sustainable and healthy society through a community-based health alliance. He believes in cooperation, and says that Kitchener and Waterloo can work very well together.

In his spare time, he likes to golf, hike, cycle, and plan community events.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Carol Moogks-Soulis

Carol Moogks-Soulis has served on the Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee for twelve years, the last four as chair, as well as volunteering in many different capacities with a variety of organizations, such as the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Waterloo District School Board, the United Church of Canada, and other non-profit and special interest groups.

Carol started volunteering when she and her husband persuaded the City

to naturalize the wetland behind their home. It was the first such project in the city. Ten years later, when the City decided to naturalize other areas, they had a beautiful ten-year-old pilot project that they could show to people who had difficulty imagining what naturalization would look like.

She is inspired by her family’s nearly 200 years of living in and contributing to the community of Waterloo;

Senior Outing Day Program and Home Support Services Home Support Services (HSS) Statistics HSS provided 7,718 rides for their clients and served 3,653 meals.

HSS Successes Successfully implemented one-fax referral system.

Increases in Transportation units of service each quarter.

Increase in Aging at Home units of service, thereby fulfilling more client requests.

Paid driver hired to fulfill transportation requests.

Senior Outing Day Program Statistics SODP served 149 participants while providing 5, 064 units of service.

68 volunteers assisted SODP in 2010.

she can look around and see physical proof of their existence and life work. “I want to work with other dedicated and inspired people, and see the improvement in the community that comes from our collective efforts,” she says. She hopes to continue helping to identify what past strengths made Waterloo the wonderful place it is today, and help it move forward into the future without losing what made it successful.

Senior Outing Day Program Consistent attendance of participants.

Requests received for additional days.

Program recommended to others by participants.

High volume of student volunteers completing placements for course requirements; many continued to volunteer after their placement hours were completed.

18 special event theme days provided for participants in 2010.

Special guests included staff from Martin’s Apple Farm and a Steel Drum Band.

Smooth transition of new staff due to two maternity leaves.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Laurie Strome

Laurie Strome currently volunteers as Vice Chair of the City of Waterloo’s Safe & Healthy Advisory Committee, as well as serving with the Sunnydale Community Association, the Region of Waterloo Crime Prevention Council, and Girl Guides of Canada. She has been volunteering directly with the City of Waterloo for thirteen years.

Laurie loves working with people

who give their time to help others, and are proactive in making positive change happen. “It is the greatest reward to know you had a part in making something good happen for someone else.” She looks forward to a day when her neighbourhood association can be empowered to take ownership of the programs at their community centre, and when no child

is turned away from participating in a program because there isn’t space, or because of inability to pay or lack of transportation to that program.

She works as a Circulation Services Supervisor in the Dana Porter Library, University of Waterloo. “My favourite book is either the last one I read or the one I am reading now,” she says.

Aquatics

Moses Springer outdoor pool had a very successful season. Summer 2010 was a great splash at Moses with an overall 80% increase in attendance daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Aquatics developed a summer partnership with WLU pool and offered evening weekly swim lessons over nine weeks of the summer. Over 450 participants took part in our WLU swim lesson program.

Partnership with our 4 aquatic sports groups (KW Synchro, ROW Swim Club, KW Waterpolo, KW Div- Facility Event Highlights ing) keeps growing and developing. All four groups RIM Park & Manulife Financial Sportsplex continue to grow and prosper in their sport with Ontario Volleyball Championships welcomed over increases of up to 20% in their membership.

10,000 spectators, participants and volunteers over 3 weekends. Prime Minister Steven Harper attended Over 60 Waterfit classes at the Swimplex were and watched his son play in the tournament. offered with numerous options. New in 2010 were Kickboxing, Shallow with Equipment and Boot Camp.

Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OSTC) & Canadian Skills Competition (CSC) hosted over 20,000 participants, visitors, and volunteers from across Canada.

Many other events were held throughout the year.

Total yearly attendance: 1.3 million Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Closing Ceremonies for OSTC; hosted opening and closing for CSC, and many other events in 2010.

Total yearly attendance: 750,000

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Cemetery Services and Bechtel Park

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Two new cemetery lot sections were developed in 2010, adding close to 1000 lots to the inventory when fully completed in 2011.

Work to enhance the children’s section continued in 2010. A concrete sidewalk and the base for the new children’s memorial feature were set in place.

Landscaping and an order for the bronze and granite memorial were also completed.

A partnership with Waterloo North Hydro enabled the successful transfer of an osprey nest from the Bechtel Park Soccer fields to the southern dog park area.

EVERYDAY SUCCESSES:

Park usage strategies continue to move forward with the Nordic Ski Club, Laurier Baseball, Waterloo Minor Soccer and a host of trail users in efforts to sustain existing park programs.

Earth Day and Environmental Action Programs assisted in establishing new tree and shrub plantings in and around the dog park with a host of volunteers.

The Bechtel Park entrance roadway paving and landscape works was completed in the spring of 2010.

Survey and boundary marking was completed through relations with Public Works Services and CCRS staff. The boundaries between the City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener, and private lands are now defined and delineated.

A Night in Waterloo

It’s 7:30 pm on a winter Monday night in Waterloo. We have about 250 kids playing hockey right now, we have another 250 excited, getting ready to go on the ice. We have a further 250 loosening their skates and talking about the one that almost went in. Each of those children has at least one engaged parent or guardian bringing them, supporting their learning about the importance of fair play, team work, and exercise.

There is a whole network of committed volunteers giving their time as coaches, managers, trainers and board members to allow this to happen.

There are two field houses full with about 100 youth soccer players recreating in each. The gyms are full with basketball programs engaging

another 60 youth. Figure skating is always exciting to watch and their program is full tonight. At the Swimplex about 200 children are learning to swim every hour. In another hour or so, the use will gradually transfer over to adults and the facilities will be used until at least midnight.

There are about 150 people walking through Wonders of Winter marveling at the lights and getting some healthy outdoor time. Another 50 people are skating at the public square enjoying this Canadian tradition.

Tonight there are about 100 community groups delivering, or planning to deliver their services to our residents. Neighbourhood associations are meeting to plan improvements to their communities, summer sports

have already begun to meet to plan the upcoming season, and all forms of art, music, and creative expression are alive in Waterloo tonight.

We have volunteers thinking about the lives they will change tomorrow.

Over 10,000 ‘residents’ in Parkview Cemetery are being cared for.

Teachers and students are thinking about their field trip tomorrow to the museum and the Clay and Glass Gallery. Tonight about 50 seniors are thinking about attending a day program at the Adult Recreation Centre tomorrow. For some it is their weekly highlight; fellowship and a hot meal.

Tonight is a great night in Waterloo, just like every night.

David Smith

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Planning & Performance

Developed Council-approved Service Delivery Policy that provides direction to CCRS staff with respect to service delivery principles and parameters.

Developed a new Affiliation Policy, approved by Council. Staff efforts continued with the development of a Staff Toolkit to ensure a smooth transition and consistent interpretation of the policy moving forward.

Developed a Community Cash Grant Policy that is ready to present to council in early 2011 for approval.

Developed Terms of Reference and phased Implementation Plan for a community-wide Neighbourhood Engagement Strategy for implementation beginning in Spring 2011.

Business Development & Promotion

Launched Leisure Letter, an e-newsletter for targeted and timely communication to customers.

Received Council approval for funding for Corporate Sponsorship Development pilot project.

Improved online presence of Program & Activities Guide through use of interactive flip-page technology.

Began year-round Public Art promotional campaign utilizing various communication channels, including social media outlets such as YouTube.

Developed an outdoor facility inventory database, and drafted key Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy. This will provide direction to the CCRS Department over the next 20 years with respect to outdoors sports facility enhancement, development, and service delivery.

RIM Park Artificial Turf Project completion—this project included design, testing and construction of a major artificial turf facility. The facility boasts leading edge technology and environmental enhancements.

Drafted Action Skate Park Strategy and determined site location and design for an action skate park facility at Waterloo Park, construction to begin in 2011.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Casey Cadeau

Casey Cadeau will be graduating from high school this June, and has volunteered for three years with the City of Waterloo, serving on the Youth Sports and Recreation Council, the Youth Community Issues Council, the Youth Arts and Culture Council, the Waterloo Olympic Torch Relay Committee, and the City of Waterloo Environment Council.

She is very proud of the success and growth of the events she helped

organize. “I like it when people come to my events and have a good time, but I love it when we get to donate our proceeds to a good charity,” she says. “Knowing that a fashion show or a coffeehouse can help feed kids is amazing. I get to have fun at my events, and I get a great sense of accomplishment when everything is done.”

In her free time, Casey is on her school rowing team, and teaches a cheerleading class. She works part time at Walmart, and is trying to stay on top of her homework. The number one secret of her success is commitment.

“If you commit to making something happen, it will. This has been true for me not only when working in the community, but also in my studies.”

VOLUNTEER PROFILE:

Alison Burkett

As a teenager with a summer job picking fruit on the Niagara Peninsula, Alison Burkett learned that the days go by quickly if you work hard. Alison is currently Chair of the Board of the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery (CGG); in the past she has also served on the City of Kitchener Arts & Culture Advisory Committee, Christ Lutheran Church Council, Win-Win Affordable Housing, the Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce, Waterloo Minor Soccer, and more.

It has been very rewarding, she says, to see the recognition for her hard work with City staff, the Board and CGG staff to get The Clay & Glass to a sustainable state. The secret of her success is her belief that nothing is too tough to tackle, and that networks can help with figuring things out.

She is inspired by all of the positive people in her life.

Alison and her husband own Gallery on the Grand. As she nears retirement, her goal is to get much better at bridge, and to become a Life Master by 2015.

Inclusion Program

Statistics on service delivery for Waterloo residents through our Inclusion Programs are below.

Name of Program Boccia Adapted Aquatics Legacy Fund PAL Card GRAAC Leisure Support Volunteer Inclusion Facilitators Every Kid Counts Camp Programs

# of Waterloo participants 2 93 (Forest Heights Pool) 5 64 7 3

Hours of Service Delivery 18 407

45

1890

43

1890

34

1248

n/a n/a 243 hours 6

Fee Assistance Leisure Access Program 2010

# Requests

# Approved Families

# Approved Participants

Value of Subsidy Issued

Actual Subsidy Spent on Program Fees

259

245

617

$183,692

$75,179.30

Outdoor Rinks Program 2010 # Rinks # Parks # Volunteers 31 29 180

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Association des Francophones de Kitchener-Waterloo African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region Asahi Judo Club Beechwood North Homes Association Bertie’s Place Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region Central Ontario Developmental Riding Program / Pride Stables Clair Hills Community Association Club 55 Conestoga Sailing Club Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener & Area (CAFKA) Cricket Association of Waterloo Kaiteur Cricket DaCapo Chamber Choir Eastbridge Neighbourhood Association Erb West Neighbourhood Association Escrime Excelsior Fencing Club Evening of World Sacred Music eyeGo to the Arts Gilbert & Sullivan Society Grand River New Horizons Music Grand Philharmonic Choir Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum Corp Special Olympics Ontario KitchenerWaterloo K-W AccessAbility KW Arts Award KW Arts Gallery K-W Chamber Orchestra K-W Chamber Music Society K-W Childrens Drama Workshop K-W Community Orchestra K-W Diving Club K-W Drum Corps Association K-W Gymnastics Club K-W Inline Hockey League K-W Little Theatre

Kitchener-Waterloo Minor Boys Softball Association K-W Minor Lacrosse Association K-W Multicultural Centre K-W Oktoberfest (Parade Only) K-W Rowing Club K-W Sertoma Speed Skating Club K-W Sidewinders K-W Silver Stars K-W Skating Club KW Sports Council K-W Symphony K-W Synchro Club K-W Track & Field Association Ertugrul Society K-W Water Polo K-W Weavers’ & Spinners’ Guild K-W Youth Basketball Association Lakeshore North Residential Associations Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association Lost and Found Theatre Co. LINK Picnic Festival Mary Allen Neighourhood Association MT Space Neruda Productions Grand River New Horizons Music NUMUS Concerts Inc. Old Salts Canoe Club Pakistan Canada Association (PCA) Waterloo-Wellington Counties Region of Waterloo Swim Club Renaissance Singers Royal Medieval Faire Sunnydale Community Association Tamil Cultural Association of Waterloo Region Tsuruoka Kai Karate Do Twin Cities Minor Tackle Football Association Inc. U of W Canada Celebrations University Downs Neighbourhood Association University of Waterloo Art Gallery

AFFILIATED GROUPS

Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival Vermont Park Neighbourhood Association Volunteer Action Centre of K-W & Area Waterloo Arts Festival Waterloo Chamber Players Waterloo Coin Society Waterloo Community Arts Centre Waterloo Concert Band Waterloo County Quilters Guild Waterloo County Tole & Decorative Painters Guild Waterloo Cycling Club Waterloo Film Group Waterloo Horticultural Society Waterloo Minor Baseball Association Waterloo Minor Girls Hockey Waterloo Minor Girls Softball Waterloo Minor Hockey Waterloo Minor Ringette Waterloo Minor Soccer Waterloo Potters’ Workshop Waterloo Region Nordic Sports Club Waterloo Region Track 3 Ski School Waterloo Regional Arts Council Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum Waterloo Sunrise Cricket Club Wellington Winds Westvale Neighbourhood Association Wonders of Winter CFUW Arts Garden Club of KW Golden Triangle Marine Modellers KW Amateur Radio Club KW Aquarium Society KW Bonsai Society KW Field Naturalists Club KW Flyfishers KW Philatelic Society KW Rug Hooking Guild Retired Business & Professional Men’s Club of KW Telephone Pioneers Kitchener L/M Club

RinC Funding

Through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation Program (Ontario REC), the governments of Canada and Ontario are working together to support Ontario’s communities and to create jobs through upgrades and improvements to recreational infrastructure.

Beyond economic stimulus and job creation, renewing, rehabilitating and modernizing our recreational infrastructure has the added benefit of encouraging higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building.

The City of Waterloo completed extensive updates and repairs to its facilities through the RinC program in 2010.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Albert McCormick Community Centre Compressor Replacement, West Rink Roof Repairs and Restoration, East Rink Slab Replacement and Entry Sidewalk Replacement Moses Springer Community Centre Pool Liner and Slide Replacement, Rink Board Replacement, Arena Bleacher Replacement, Roof Repairs/Restoration, Block Wall Repairs, Metal Siding Replacement, Compressor Replacement

Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Track Floor Replacement, Roof Repairs and Restoration Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Swimplex Painting of Superstructure, Hydraulic Pool Floor Repairs, Lighting Upgrade

PARTNERSHIP & PUBLIC INPUT Partnership and Public Input is critical to the success of the CCRS Department. Partnership is key to developing programs and services and building facilities and amenities that provide a world-class recreational experience for the community members of The City of Waterloo. Public input is vital to shaping Opportunities include but are not limited to Volunteering in a variety of capacities: Festivals Wonders of Winter Public Square events Sitting on a Council-approved Committee Museum Neighbourhood Committee Community Outdoor Rink and many more

and setting the direction CCRS takes to provide the essential services of leisure, arts, and recreation to the citizens of Waterloo.

There are numerous opportunities for public involvement in the Community, Culture & Recreation Services Department.

Participating in surveys and evaluations Attending open houses and public input sessions Attending Council Meetings Being involved in discussions via social media such as Facebook or Twitter

Policy work is done hand in hand with public input.

As staff work on policy development, there are a number of opportunities for the public to shape the policy. This includes feedback from the CCRS Advisory Committee (comprised of volunteer citizens), and input and feedback from public input sessions.

Council (who represents the Waterloo citizens) has final policy approval.

To illustrate how policy is developed and the areas of public input, please see the diagram at right.

Partnerships come in many forms. The partnerships that CCRS has formed with private, public and community organizations in and surrounding the City of Waterloo are too numerous to name, and many were previously mentioned in this report. Some key partnerships during 2010 were:

City of Waterloo and Waterloo Minor Soccer Club worked together to build two artificial turf fields in RIM Park, and provide lighting on all 6 fields.

City of Waterloo, University of Waterloo, and the YMCA worked together to create the Stork YMCA and Waterloo Public Library at the corner of Laurelwood Drive and Bearinger Road. The building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011.

City of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University provided summer swimming lessons.

Cities of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge, and the Region of Waterloo, commissioned a joint public art brochure.

55+ Programs and Parkwood Senior Suites provided off-site fitness classes.

Waterloo North Hydro and the City of Waterloo successfully relocated an osprey nest.

2010 REVENUES & EXPENSES Community, Culture and Recreation Services

2010 Actual Expenses

Supplies & Material $4,101,627 21%

Overhead incl. insurance, debt 19% $4,050,765

Salaries, Wages & Benefits $9,476,763 46%

Reserve Contributions 3% $9,765,909

Rent, Services, & Financial Expenses $307,361 1%

Grants (incl. FRD) 10% $2,182,695

Total: $20,839,857 Community, Culture and Recreation Services

2010 Revenues

User Fees 47% $9,765,909 Tax Base Support $8,687,152 42%

Grants 3% $621,292

Reserves $1,514,581 7%

Misc. Revenue & Investment Income

1% $250,923

Total: $20,839,857 If 2010 was the year of developing momentum to achieve our goals and work with our community partners, 2011 will be the year of engagement with our community. A new Advisory Committee, Council approved Public Involvement Guidelines, staff dedicated to strengthening sport and neigh-

LOOKING FORWARD

a great city comprised of great bourhood associations, and a renewed sense of ‘we can do this neighbourhoods, and enhancing better’ will be our tools of choice. our neighbourhoods will enhance our city.

By the end of 2011 there will be approved policies related to resource allocation based on community input, and our Neighbourhood Engagement strategy will be well underway. We are

This Annual Report represents one channel of communication.

Check our improved website for more!

Community, Culture and Recreation Services www.waterloo.ca

100 Regina Street South Waterloo ON N2J 4A8

Phone 519-747-8733 Fax 519-747-8754 TTY 1-866-786-3941

2011 marks the tenth anniversary of RIM Park, and the Manulife Financial Sportsplex and Healthy Living Centre. RIM Park is the City of Waterloo’s premier recreation and park complex, visited by about a million people each year. Located on the northeast side of Waterloo, this 500-acre facility features outdoor sports fields, a multipurpose recreation building, trails, parkland, a golf course, heritage elements, public art and much more. As well, it provides one of the longest stretches of public access to the Grand River shoreline.

The City of Waterloo is proud to announce the latest addition to RIM Park. The premier outdoor sports field facility features two fully lit, multi-purpose artificial turf fields, as well as a playground, trail linkages, walking circuit, and service building. It opened in Spring 2011.