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Groundbreaking Ceremony June 23, 2009
GENESIS CENTRE OF COMMUNITY WELLNESS
As early as 1994, residents of NE Calgary approached the City of Calgary with a vision to bring together people of all ethnic backgrounds in fulfilling the need for a recreational and community centre for the rapidly growing NE quadrant of the City.
At that time, the site before us was surrounded by farmers’ fields; Saddletowne Circle did not exist; 80th Avenue was an unimproved country road; Martindale and Taradale were in various stages of development, and Saddle Ridge was only a collection of 75 acreages.
Since that time the area around us has developed by leaps and bounds, and the dream has grown into a complex which provides sport, recreation and leisure services, human services, and an opportunity to promote culture and community development.
The vision took shape as the area grew. In 2000, the YMCA came on board to assist with the planning. In 2005 the communities of Martindale, Saddle Ridge, Taradale and Calgary Soccer joined together to form the NE Centre of Community Society which is now know as NECCS. An official partnership was then formed between NECCS, the YMCA, City of Calgary and the Calgary Public Library. A human services component was developed within the NECCS portion with the guidance and support of the United Way. Since 2005 many sponsors have come forward to financially support this project. They include the City of Calgary, who provided strong political and administrative support, Government of Alberta, Government of Canada, The Kahanoff Foundation, Parks Foundation, anonymous donors, and Genesis Land Development Corporation, represented by President and CEO Gobi Singh and after whom the centre is named.
We are here today to break ground for this wonderful facility, a model of which is here today. This is the culmination of 15 years of dreams and hard work. Thank you again for coming to celebrate with us.
We would like to acknowledge those individuals who have worked hard to make this dream a reality.
Grant Pollock, Global TV, was our Master of Ceremony and we had many honoured guests that we want to acknowledge as well. Honoured guests include:
Member of Parliament Davinder Shory, Calgary Northeast; Members of the Alberta Legislature, Manmeet Bhullar, Calgary Montrose, Moe Amery, Calgary East, Kyle Fawcett, Calgary North Hill and Darshan Kang, Calgary McCall; from the City of Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier and Aldermen Jim Stevenson and Ray Jones. Also thanks go out to the Calgary Board of Education: Darlene Selby Acting Director, Teri Oberlin System Assistant Principal, and trustee Lynn Ferguson. From the Calgary Catholic School Board: Micheal Barbero – Rocky View Schools/Facilities and Transport, Trustees Marg Belcourt and Rosemary Goerlitz. We would like to give a special welcome to Former MLA Shiraz Shariff who has been a great friend to this project.
Please click on the photos below to see larger images from our groundbreaking ceremonies:
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