Cochrane curling club shares concerns over YMCA’s proposed takeover of rec centre

Cochrane's curling club is voicing concerns about the town and Rocky View County's choice of operator to take over running its home recreation centre.

A local group in a community west of Calgary is sharing their concerns about a proposed takeover of a recreation centre it says it invested heavily in for many years.

The Cochrane Curling Club Society (CCC) says YMCA Calgary is seeking permission to takeover operation of the Spray Lakes Sawmills Centre (SLSC), a facility owned by both the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County.

The CCC says the shift “will have widespread implications for the thousands of residents and user groups who rely on SLSC.”

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Some of the concerns include a loss of control, given that the operator is headquartered in Calgary, potential increases in fees, loss of jobs, redirection of revenue and the possible closure of the On-The-Rocks Lounge.

The Town of Cochrane has addressed the concern of the lounge shutting down and says it will be run by a third-party operator, remaining functional.

The CCC is also worried about an “erosion of public trust” and the lack of public consultation about the decision.

“We are not opposed to evolution or new partnerships,” said Kendall Waiting, CCC president, in a news release. “But the people of Cochrane built this centre together — and their voices must be heard before it is handed over to an external operator with no local governance, no curling experience and no direct community accountability.”

According to YMCA Calgary, the town and county issued a request for proposals last year for a new operating model for the SLSC.

It says this was done in response to Cochrane’s continued growth to ensure the facility remains sustainable, responsive and offers good service to residents.

YMCA Calgary says it was chosen because of its wealth of experience.

“YMCA Calgary has over 123 years of experience delivering health, wellness and recreation services across the region including in the City of Calgary and in Kananaskis Country,” it said.

YMCA Calgary says it plans to retain as many of the SLSC staff as possible and will honour agreements with existing sports groups, including the CCC.

However, the organization suggested that the fate of the On the Rocks Lounge is a little more unclear.

“The YMCA understands that the lounge is a beloved space for social connection, activity viewing and community-building. We also understand the importance of predictability and operational continuity for members, user groups, and the broader community.

“While YMCA employees will not be involved in serving alcohol on an operational basis, we look forward to working through an open and collaborative process to find a solution that enables the continued responsible enjoyment of the lounge.”

A public hearing about the proposal is scheduled to take place at the Cochrane Ranchehouse at 5:30 p.m. on June 11.

At that meeting, the CCC says residents will be able to speak with town council before a final decision is made.

The agreement is expected to be finalized later this spring, with a full operational transition expected to occur by early 2026.

Town’s Stance

The Town of Cochrane held a press conference to address concerns residents have.

“When we looked at the demand on our current recreation facilities, we knew that we were going to have to consider what additional recreation facilities in our community would look like. How would they be managed?” said Mike Derricott, chief administrative officer for the town.

Derricott, joined by Mayor Jeff Genung, reiterated the YMCA is not “taking over” the facility.

“We do not expect there to be changes at the operational level, to the user experience both at the individual level or to the groups,” said Derricott.

In a statement, Rocky View County said it is “committed to supporting effective recreation services in partnership with the Town of Cochrane” and that it “respects their jurisdiction over this matter and trusts they will determine the best path forward for their community.”

The public hearing is scheduled for June 11, which councillors and the mayor will sit in on.

From there, they’ll take the feedback and vote on it at a regular council meeting.

The deal between the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County would be in place for 25 years, and if a deal is struck, there will be a six-month transition period.