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LETTER: In support of the community centre

Dear Editor: As a long-time resident of Bowen Island, I am writing this letter in support of the proposed Bowen Island Community Centre initiative.

Dear Editor: 

As a long-time resident of Bowen Island, I am writing this letter in support of the proposed Bowen Island Community Centre initiative. Over the past 21 years I have used the recreation facilities to participate in health and fitness programs and workshops and appreciate having these high quality programs available in my community.

In addition to participating in recreation programs, I also facilitate after school arts programing for youth. For me, a purpose-built community centre will provide a place where I can better facilitate arts programming in an inspiring setting. 

Currently the programs I facilitate are held in the Bowen Island Community School classrooms. While I am grateful to BICS that this space has been made available and to the teachers who have welcomed me into their classrooms, it’s not an ideal environment for an after-school program: the physical space limits the type of programming offered, limits the timing of programs and makes it harder for children to unwind after a busy day of school learning. 

The community centre would provide a destination away from the school but still be close enough to easily access after school and would be more inclusive of arts programming for youth and adults alike.

A community centre would be an asset to the whole community; it has the potential to adapt to community programming needs more effectively than it currently can and is worthy of community support.

Sincerely,

Tracy McLachlan