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The MCRC Society - an HRM driven community board
Good intentions end in resignations
The second community Board was rigidly structured as directed by HRM. Several of the members of the original MCRC Committee were opposed to the formalization of the original committee and inevitably decided not to go forward with the new Society's election process.
November 2003 to Sept 2005
The first incarnation of the MCRC Board was a bright and talent group of individuals including two PhDs, a lawyer, chartered accountant, engineer, computer programmer, MLA, and a school principal. The board was given a much firmer mandate than the prior committee and began work.
Strained relations
Over their existence, the Board disagreed with HRM quite strongly at times about the direction the facility was taking. The Partnership sub-committee, for example, explored some very promising partnerships such as the Cardiac Rehab Unit that needs to find a new home in the HRM. These ideas were largely rejected by HRM and no partnerships were ever established.
Does size really matter?
Much of the board's attention focused around the size of the facility. Consensus among the board was that given the rapid growth of the immediate and surrounding area, much more than a replacement for Northcliffe was needed. The notion of an expanded vision led the board to pursue broader facility concepts that would be similar to recreation facilities in similar sized communities.
Concepts envisioned by the Board
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Concept drawing connecting the MCRC with the Soccer Nova Scotia Facility |
Birds-eye rending of concept drawing connecting MCRC with Soccer Nova Scotia |
Concept drawning of Cole Harbour Place inserted on MCRC land. |
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Overhead photo with Cole Harbour Place added |
Artist's rendering of facility adjacent to Soccer Nova Scotia |
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Indoor Field House: members of the board wanted something like this for the community |
Illustration of parking concerns on Thomas Raddall Drive |
Centrepoint of MCRC catchment area |
Architect hired
In the spring of 2005, the Board hired an architect. The architect, from HRM, had a pool specialist consultant from Scotland help advise on the project. After the consultation, the Board agreed on a plan for a pool that was a copy of the one in Perth, Scotland. It is a "leisure" pool, a resort style pool. This included communal change rooms for men, women, and children, as is the custom in Scotland. This plan was adopted by the Board and presented to the community on June 16, 2005.
Resignations force an end to the Society
Following the presentation of the facility concept to the community on June 16, 2005, many of the board members resigned and the board was eventually
dissolved by HRM (see History: June 16 meeting).
