Innovation Drive in North Kanata, to be opened on or about 2012. Ottawa will invest $40M and the Y $6M. 
To help fine tune the form and function of the Complex, the Y's John Campbell will conduct Focus Group around the region in early 2010. One the key Focus Groups was conducted Monday 25/1/10 in West Carleton. |
The 'West Carleton KNRC Focus Group' invitation... A focus group is being planned for West Carleton residents interested in the proposed Torbolton Centre's Fitness Studio and its connection to the Kanata North Recreational Centre's YM/YWCA The Focus Group will be held in the Committee Meeting Room at the West Carleton Client Service Centre for Monday, January 25 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Suggested time frame 60 to 75 minutes. Ten to fifteen participants per Focus Group. Overall KNRC Focus Group Objective: To hold Focus Groups to determine the specific program and facility needs for those living within the catchment area of the new Kanata North Recreation Centre / National Capital Region Y.Ý Items to be included in Focus Groups Discussions (60+ minutes):
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Here's how the Focus Group went... At the big public KNRC meeting in December 09, Vera Jones had offered to help Consultant John Campbell to pull together the best of the best 12 for the West Carleton Focus Group. Vera reached out to the community to find these exact 12 folks. She started the hunt by calling Claudette and Ray Cameron, supporters of the Torbolton Centre Fitness Studio Project. Claudette and Ray were enthusiastic, though sadly at the last minute were unable to attend. Likewise, Jo-Anne Campbell couldn't make it. Next she tracked down Ruth McKlusky and her brilliant son Buick McKlusky (to be our Focus Group youth Rep), who both signed on with the family view in mind. As well, Vera found seniors Bob Dupuis (connected to the regional Seniors Council) and Linda Cassidy (an avid student of Jan Fraser). Jan Fraser, a Y certified instructor, who teaches classes in the area in the community centres, signed on, too. A 35-year Y member, Jan knows much about how all this works best. Susan and Charlie (Mr. Tae Kwon Do) Henderson came onboard to bring the fresh viewpoint to the Group. Charlie teaches Tae Kwon Do to a dedicated clientele in the region. To round out her team, Vera volunteereed herself as a longtime Y member and strong supporter of this as a smart life-style. She recruited her husband Hank whose first joined the Y as a boy in September 1951 when the YM was still separate from the YW, and totally spartan as everything was done naked! Not surprisingly, everyone had important and original ideas to drop on the group. Buick was the star! He came through with flying colours, explaining which attractions the Y needed to offer to bring in Youth and keep them coming back. Much of the Y-wisdom already evident in the project was confirmed in the discussion, and a lot was fine-tuned. Vera pointed out that above-ground parking is a poor use of precious landscape when underground parking so much better environmentally. Jan suggested the community Y-Bus like the one's used downtown. Hank noted the many benefits that could accrue for oldsters with the proposed Torbolton Centre's Fitness Studio to be valued as a 'Y-Outpost'. He described Judy Bedell's brilliant idea of including what would be Canada's first 'Mobility Park' into the Complex to help train the mobility challenged of all ages to navigate through the endless obstacles intown and out while supervised and in the safety of the Park. Hank also noted the need to assure that the NKRC site landscaping needed to avoid lawn deserts and instead feed our threatened pollinators by a forested area dominated by nut bearing trees for all their urban wildlife values and the considerable wellbeing benefits to us humans, too! He noted also that the TVs now mounted on all the exercise machines should offer half hour university courses that would enable users to acquire university credits as they exercised! Convenors John and Sue made lots of notes to be sure not to lose any of the great ideas and insights. This group was thought one the very best. Vera was gifted with blooming tulips as thanks for her excellent group. Thanks all for your excellent KNRC Focus Group!
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