The NECCS story is an incredible 15-year journey of a small group of dedicated people who have made a commitment to improve their dynamic and diverse community. The media release below provides some key highlights of that journey.
Calgary, Alberta — Carol Steiner, President of the NE Centre of Community Society (NECCS), and Devinder Shory, Chairman of the ‘Completing the Dream Together’ Campaign, today announced a long-term partnership agreement with Genesis Land Development Corporation to provide urgently needed sport, recreation, wellness and cultural services to the residents of northeast Calgary.
Genesis Land Development Corporation has committed $5 million for a 15-year naming agreement for a dynamic new complex opening in 2011 under the name of Genesis Centre of Community Wellness. It will house a YMCA, a branch of the Calgary Public Library, a human (social) services centre, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and community gathering places.
This unique centre is the culmination of 15 years of hard work by NECCS, a dedicated group of community volunteers who had the foresight to anticipate future needs for sport, recreation and community services in the northeast. NECCS is a grassroots organization with representatives from three area Community Associations and the Calgary Soccer Federation. NECCS is part of a bigger partnership that includes the YMCA, the Calgary Public Library and the City of Calgary.
“The communities of the northeast have been waiting for this complex for a long time,” says NECCS President Carol Steiner, adding that the northeast is the most culturally diverse area of city with a rapidly growing youth population and the highest enrolment in minor soccer in the Calgary region. “We need to have a place where all members of our unique community can come together and access services and programs that meet their individual and cultural needs.”
In addition to the full complement of fitness, health and recreation services, the complex will provide facilities for large cultural events and activities as well as urgently needed indoor and outdoor soccer fields. It will also provide access to a range of human or social services including English as a second language programs. Mayor David Bronconnier and Calgary City Council have committed $70 million to the $120 million project. The other partners have also been raising support for their individual portions of the project including NECCS which has initiated a $15 million public sector fundraising campaign for its community portion cost of this complex.
The contribution from Genesis Land Development Corporation represents the largest naming sponsorship made to date to a facility of this kind. “We are very pleased to be partnering with NECCS to make this vision a reality. This is a perfect fit with our vision for building a healthy and productive community in the northeast. It will be an honour to have our name associated with such an outstanding facility,” says Gobi Singh, President & CEO of Genesis Land Development Corporation.
According to Steiner, the new partnership is a win-win for everyone involved. “We have a shared goal to ensure the northeast is a good place to live and raise a family. We believe our partnership will serve as a model for other not-for-profits in the City and hopefully inspire more corporations to become involved in helping build healthy communities throughout the city,” says Steiner, adding there are many opportunities for other prospective donors and supporters to become involved in the northeast project.
Genesis Land Development Corporation is a fully-integrated community development company with operations in Alberta and British Columbia with the majority of its lands located in and around the City of Calgary. They are engaged in full-cycle development including land development, single and multi-family home building and commercial development and leasing. Genesis continues to strive through ongoing operations to further its mission of becoming the strongest and most proficient community developer in Canada through acquisition, re-zoning, development, management and sale of its properties through its various divisions.
The Genesis Centre of Community Wellness will be operated in partnership by the community-appointed NECCS Board of Directors, the YMCA and the Calgary Public Library. The naming of the facility has received the full support of the Mayor and City Council. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2009, with a completion date of mid-2011.
