As of Dec. 31, the Kipling and District Parks & Recreation Board was dissolved.聽The Town of Kipling thanks the latest board members for their years of service, including Larry Lesiuk, 25 years, Kim Zepick, 23 years, Norma Ferch, 20+ years, Darren Szakacs, 18 years, Kevin Zepick, seven years, and Dennis Cacho, six years.
Your contributions to recreation in Kipling have been very much appreciated.
According to a 1981 bylaw, Kipling and District Parks & Recreation was formed on April 9, 1981, although it repeals a bylaw, 7-1967, so it appears there was a board of some sort as far back as 1967.
Bylaw 2-1981 says 鈥� The board may make recommendations to the parties hereto regarding the passing of bylaws, rules or regulations as it may deem necessary on all matters connected with regulations, management supervision and operation of programmes, areas, facilities, maintenance and equipment under its control; as set down by the parties to this agreement.鈥澛� 聽
The boards have the management, operation and control of programmes, areas, facilities and equipment which may vary from time to time to be designated by joint resolution of the parties to the agreement. It also talks about making recommendations to council on the improvements and future expansion of recreation facilities. This agreement was between the Town of Kipling, RM No. 124 and RM No. 94.
So basically the board was formed to manage the operation and maintenance of the recreation facilities in Kipling along with making capital recommendations or needs to council.
The 1981 bylaw was updated in 2016 to reflect a new agreement due to the withdrawal of one of the partners. The mandate of the board did not change.
Over the years, there have been a few acting as recreation director, including Dean Robson, Kelly Mentanko, Craig Francis and Perry Hubbard, with their office being at the Kipling Arena.
The most recent staffer is Susan Hengen acting as recreation programmer. Her office is now upstairs in the Kipling Professional Building.
Kipling Parks & Recreation is now known as Leisure Services, with Hengen in the role of manager. Taking the place of board members are Town of Kipling council members.
Why the decision was made to dissolve Kipling Parks & Recreation?
鈥淔rom the town council鈥檚 perspective, they decided that they wanted to have more control over the management of the facilities from an operating standpoint and from a capital standpoint,鈥� said Gail Dakue, Town of Kipling chief administrative officer.
鈥淭here has now been a joint recreation committee formed of the RM of Kingsley, RM of Hazelwood and the Town of Kipling.鈥�
鈥淭hese council members will be looking at more of the strategic direction for the facilities,鈥� said Dakue. 鈥淭he Leisure Service Department will become a department of the town, similar to public works, administration, etc. and we will handle the operations of it.鈥�
All programs will operate the same from here on, including the summer program, Artrageous and FitKids and things like that鈥�.just under a new name.
What kinds of changes have you seen in the time you've been with Parks & Rec?
鈥淲hen I began employment with Kipling & District Parks and Recreation Board in October of 2006, I was hired as a recreation programmer,鈥� said Hengen.聽鈥淎t that time, the board had identified a desire to include a focus on programming for residents of the community as well as the other duties of the position. Throughout the past 14 years, we have had a variety of programs reaching all demographics of the population which have been a wonderful addition to our community.
鈥淪ome examples of these programs are weekly older adult fitness classes, youth curling program, FitKids active after school program and our children鈥檚 summer activities program.聽We have also seen major capital upgrades to all of our recreation facilities throughout this time, as well as the addition of the community walking trail.鈥�
What sort of improvements have been made?
鈥淚mprovements that have been made: all of our recreational facilities have seen improvements over the past 14 years.聽The聽Kipling Arena聽has had low emissivity ceilings installed over both the skating and curling ice surfaces with commercial fans added to improve air quality and reduce condensation, the lobby had the flooring and ceiling upgraded, public washrooms in the lobby were renovated, compressors on both skating and curling plants were replaced, rubber matting was installed throughout the basement, both facilities were insulated, furnaces were replaced.聽
鈥淎t the聽Kipling & District Swimming Pool, the washrooms and change rooms were renovated, filter systems of the pools upgraded, awnings upgraded, hot tub replaced, boilers and heat exchangers replaced, and main circulation pump replaced.聽At聽Lions Park聽(the ball diamonds), all fencing has been replaced and upgraded, fence cap installed, three of four diamonds have a shale infield, sewer tank replaced and upgraded, and a new kitchen facility was added.
鈥淚n聽Bell Park, the former play structure was removed as it was unsafe and replaced with a new play structure geared to two to eight-year-olds.聽As well, the surface of the tennis courts was upgraded about eight years ago and pickle ball lines were included, as well as permanent basketball standards were upgraded.聽
鈥淜ipling Campground聽also saw many additions and improvements throughout the past 14 years, as eight pull-thru sites were added, the shower house was replaced and nine sites were upgraded to include sewer.聽The聽community walking trail聽was one of the most recent improvements to the community, giving residents and visitor to the community the opportunity to enjoy a stroll on the south and southwest sides of the community, linking some of the recreational facilities,鈥� Hengen explains.
What new programs have been started in the past 15 years?
Many programs were developed over the past 14 years.聽Some that continue to be popular are:聽older adult fitness classes, youth curling program, FitKids (active after school program), Artrageous (after school art program), chair yoga for seniors, Summer Slam Volleyball Skills Camp, Holiday Lights Contest.聽Other programs like various fitness classes now continue to be offered by trained individuals in the community.聽Our children鈥檚 summer activities program is the longest lasting program in the community and has been running for over 25 years.
What do you see happening differently with Leisure Services over the next five years, if any?
The mission statement of the former Kipling & District Parks and Recreation Board, defined in October of 2017, was to聽provide leadership to create an active and engaged community through inclusive recreational programs and quality facilities for the community of Kipling and the surrounding district.聽I think the intention will remain the same,鈥� says Hengen.
Kipling Parks & Recreation held an Archery Clinic in the summer of 2018 with Sandie Quennelle and Chris Hoffman teaching the kids about the equipment and helping them shoot some arrows. File photo by Laura Kish
