Westside Regional Recreation Society 2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report Westside Recreation Centre

About Westside Promoting community through high quality and accessible recreation facilities, programs and services

To enrich the wellbeing of every person in our community

Community, diversity, accessibility, safety, financial independence, quality, volunteerism

Westside Regional Recreation Society is a registered charitable organization committed to enriching the wellness of our communities. At Westside Recreation Centre, we welcome the contributions of community members and serve people of all ages and abilities.

Chair’s Message Westside’s story in 2022 was one of adaptation and revival. As the year commenced, the organization was emerging from the pandemic armed with experience from successfully confronting a black swan event. Our goals were simple: keep facilities open whenever possible, maintain focus on serving our customers and communities, treat employees and stakeholders with respect, and remain committed to the highest health and safety standards.

While decisions were not always easy, Westside prudently and thoughtfully reopened facilities and resumed normal operations in the first part of the year. Employee recruitment proved challenging, but Westside benefitted from the continued loyalty of staff and a strong management team, all of whom worked above and beyond in service of Westside. Allowing members to keep their memberships on hold during COVID restrictions expired in March with the return to full facility operations. Thanks to the loyalty of our customers, annual memberships and visitor numbers quickly returned to normal levels.

A $1.3 million operational deficit was forecast this year and budgets were pressed to their limits, but meticulous management and sensible investment resulted in only a modest loss. Westside remains in strong financial shape even after experiencing two years of pandemic impact.

Above all, Westside’s story in 2022 is one of revival. Having stayed true to its mission, vision and values in the toughest of times, we emerge resilient and determined. Westside’s leadership recently completed a strategic review, affirming our directions using the lessons learned in the past two years to carve out an updated and exciting path forward. These are indeed better days.

I extend my gratitude to Westside’s management and staff for their exceptional commitment and efforts. Their work has been nothing short of outstanding in the face of so many challenges. I’d also like to express my deep appreciation to Westside board members for their thoughtful guidance, and to our valued members and guests for their continued loyalty and support.

“Westside’s story in 2022 is one of revival. Having stayed true to its mission, vision and values in the toughest of times, we emerge resilient and determined.”

- Peter Bryan, Board Chair

Managing Director’s Message In September 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic still loomed large and was most certainly the biggest factor impacting service levels, members, programs and staff. Despite the ongoing restrictions and public health requirements, we began our fiscal year with hope. The hope that the pandemic would subside, the hope to fully reopen, the hope to get back to a sense of normal operations, and the hope to fully welcome back our communities.

For the first six months we continued to deal with change, delivering facilities and programs in hybrid model formats. Fall 2021 brought the new vaccine requirement, then scanning QR codes.

Westside would need to focus on re-establishing its staff team. Annual members reactivated their memberships when they felt comfortable doing so, but thousands remained on hold.

Throughout the year, we continually strived to offer as much as could to as many as could, knowing the need for healthy activity and recreation outlets was significant. Careful management assured members, guests and staff that their health and wellness was at the forefront of every decision. Demand for leisure activities steadily increased month by month, returning to normal usage levels by April 2022.

A survey conducted late in the year indicates that satisfaction levels with Westside’s delivery of facilities, programs, services, and customer care actually increased when compared to our last survey in 2014. We’re proud of those results. They are a testament to the Westside team’s effort, care and commitment to our entire community. Today, annual memberships and visitor numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Thank you to our members, guests, stakeholders and staff who have stayed with us during these uncertain times and supported us in countless ways. Your commitment helped us to remain open and a vital resource to those we serve.

“Careful management assured members, guests and staff that their health and wellness was at the forefront of every decision.”

- Norma-Jean Hogg, Managing Director

Sincere thanks goes to Westside’s staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly in the face of ongoing pandemic impacts, staff shortages, and constant change. Their commitment and dedication ensured that facilities reopened, programs ran, and the community was served.

We simply could not have done it without them.

Thanks to Staff & Volunteers The Going Got Tough, The Tough Kept Going

Open for the Community Westside was still in the throes of Covid-related public health restrictions at the beginning of the fiscal year, September 2021. Facilities continued to operate at a reduced capacity, proof of vaccination became a requirement, QR codes were mandatory, and thousands of Westside memberships remained on hold.

As the months went on and restrictions were lifted, Westside responded quickly to reopen facility spaces and offer the greatest access while still keeping a close eye on health and safety for members, guests and staff. Facilities and equipment were reconfigured, activities were adapted, and programs adjusted to accommodate the latest measures and best practices.

Through it all, Westside was unswerving in its commitment to provide as many recreation opportunities as possible for Calgary’s communities when they needed it most. In recognition of members’ support, Westside offered flexible membership reactivation options that respected people’s comfort level returning to public spaces.

Westside resumed full operations in February 2022. A testament to its pandemic management, annual membership subscriptions saw no reduction and drop-in visitors have returned to preCovid levels. Determination, resilience and flexibility all played a significant role in successfully delivering Westside into a post-pandemic Calgary.

2022 Statistics 11,741 Annual Members

1,376 Monthly Passholders

633,319 Visitors in 2022

11,360 Program Registrants

5,671 Swim Program Participants

3,791 Day Campers

31,038 Drop-in Group Exercise Participants

176 Youth Volunteers

361 Days Open

12,722 Volunteer Hours

$231,480 Community Support

201 New Staff

Westside conducted a satisfaction survey late in 2022, seeking opinions and garnering feedback from members, customers, and past program registrants.

More than 2,150 people responded.

In almost all categories, satisfaction was higher than indicated in the last Westside survey conducted in 2014.

2022 Westside Survey Members, Program Registrants, Customers Give Us Their Feedback

2022 Westside Survey Snapshots 94% believe Westside offers excellent/good value

93% say they feel welcome at Westside

82% say Westside programs meet their family’s needs

91% are satisfied with Fitness Centre and equipment

85% are happy with Aquatics amenities

36% say they have increased their physical activity compared to before the pandemic

93% are happy with facility maintenance

92% indicate program instructors are motivating and knowledgeable

87% are satisfied with gymnasiums and scheduled activities

76% say they feel informed about Westside news and events

90% are happy with customer care

86% are satisfied with Leisure Ice and Hockey Arenas

Board of Directors Thank You to our Board

Peter Bryan Chair

Deanna Napen Vice Chair

Pat Brennan Director

Joonas Eronen Director

Patrick Merz Director

Laverne Mok Director

Doug Bowles Treasurer

Alexandra Federucci Director

Jeff Curran Secretary

Chris Flannery Director

Norma-Jean Hogg Managing Director

Laura Mensch Director

With 2022 returning to a more normal state of operations, the Westside Regional Recreation Society would like to thank the Board of Directors for their steadfast leadership through a tumultuous two years at Westside Recreation Centre. The Board’s steady guidance and collective expertise helped us make sound decisions regarding new policies and practices, successfully reopen our facilities and programs, maintain a loyal membership and customer base, and fiscally manage during a very difficult time for the recreation industry.

The Board’s unwavering commitment allowed Westside to weather the storm and remain an important resource for our Calgary communities. We are truly thankful for their counsel and support.

Financial Statements Audited financial statements are available upon request.

Summarized Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31 2022 Assets Current Assets Investments Tangible Assets Liabilities Current Liabilities Deferred Revenue Fund Balances Invested in Tangible Assets Externally Restricted Internally Restricted Unrestricted

1,172,909 $ 1,859,185 35,367,771 36,456,991 17,275,879 18,177,759 $ 53,816,559 $ 56,493,935 1,121,909 3,234,678 4,356,587

17,275,879 4,635,641 25,121,309 2,427,143 49,459,972 $ 53,816,559

2022

2021

$

$

Summarized Statement of Operations and Changes in Fund Balances for the year ended August 31

$

914,556 3,476,236 4,390,792

18,177,759 4,897,229 26,160,547 2,867,608 52,103,143 $ 56,493,935

Operations Fund Revenue Other Income (Losses) Expenses Excess (Deficiency) Operations Revenue Over Expenses

Restricted Funds Revenue Other Income (Losses) Expenses Amortization Excess (Deficiency) Revenue Over Expenses Fund Balance, beginning of year Excess (Deficiency) Revenue Over Expenses Fund Balance, end of year

$

8,636,362 (256,044) (8,817,185)

2021 $

3,342,121 1,006,260 (5,990,077)

$ (436,867) $ (1,641,696)

$

782,834 (1,585,819) (143,124) (1,260,195)

$

805,120 2,730,565 (157,856) (1,255,323)

$ (2,206,304) $ 2,122,506

$ 52,103,143 $ 51,622,333 (2,643,171) 480,810 $ 49,459,972 $ 52,103,143

Westside Recreation Centre 2000 – 69 Street SW Calgary, Alberta T3H 4V7 403.531.5875 westsiderec.com