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OAK RIDGES COMMUNITY CENTRE SET TO OFFICIALLY OPEN
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WHO?
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The Mayor, Council and Members of the Town’s Oak Ridges Community Centre Steering Committee
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WHAT?
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Invite members of the community to attend the Official Opening of Richmond Hill’s newest facility – the Oak Ridges Community Centre (ORCC)
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WHERE?
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Located at 12897 Bayview Avenue
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WHEN?
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On Saturday, June 23 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
(*this event will take place rain or shine)
Official Welcome by Mayor and Council: 11 a.m.
*Includes a Butterfly Release and the Richmond Hill Centennial Pipe Band
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WHY?
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Full of activities and entertainment reflecting the natural environment surrounding the Town’s newest facility, the Official Opening of the ORCC will celebrate Richmond Hill’s most recent commitment to both its community and to the environment.
Visitors to the new, 56,000-square foot community centre will be treated to a variety of activities and displays demonstrating how learning and recreation come together to provide countless experiences at the ORCC. In addition to a barbecue lunch from the Oak Ridges Lions Club (for a nominal fee), visitors can enjoy various program and fitness demonstrations, leisure swims and crafts, as well as interactive live animal shows, children’s musical entertainers and performances by a unicyclist/juggler/acrobat.
As a community committed to environmental sustainability, Richmond Hill will also celebrate the ORCC’s Silver Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), having been recognized for its sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Creating strong connections within the Town and responding to the changing needs of its community is a priority for Richmond Hill and the Oak Ridges Community Centre provides the perfect example of these principles at work.
Please see the following backgrounder for more information about the facility and the programs offered and/or visit RichmondHill.ca/ORCC.
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BACKGROUNDER: OAK RIDGES COMMUNITY CENTRE
Richmond Hill is committed to protecting and enhancing its green spaces, along with ensuring wise management of resources. As such, environmental sustainability was a priority in the construction of the Oak Ridges Community Centre (ORCC); ensuring significant natural features of the site where were preserved and enhanced. The following are some of the steps taken to make certain these goals were met, along with more information about the facility and its programming.
About the Facility
The ORCC is a landmark facility; a leading edge example of environmental sustainability. The building design/architecture provides support to and complements the ecologically sensitive park design, while the building design and operations recognize LEED initiatives with a SILVER certification.
The 56,000-square foot Oak Ridges Community Centre includes the following amenities:
- Six-lane Leisure Pool, including a slide component, a separate teaching tank and change rooms, offering recreation swims, lessons and leadership/certificate programs
- An Eco Centre that provides resources and reference materials about ecological and environmental-based initiatives, the natural and cultural history of the Oak Ridges Moraine and Richmond Hill Watersheds
- State-of-the-art Fitness Studio and Aerobics Room that offer specialized programs like zumba, cyclefit and yoga
- 7,000-square foot college-sized gym with hardwood sprung floors
- Two General Program Rooms
- Seniors'/Youth Program Room
- Kitchen
The ORCC:
- Respects the natural environment, engaging the sloping hill side
- Used natural materials like stone and wood to enhance the look of the building
- Used Wiarton limestone, wood timber, Parrallam beams, a wood deck and dark ironspot manganese bricks for exterior
- Constructed the walkways from a combination of pavers and coloured concrete, while the terrace is made of Ipe wood and the pool has a timber deck
- Contains a series of linked outdoor decks, spaces and pathways
- Provides interior spaces with ample views of the landscape
Constructing the Community Centre
The following Plans were consulted to make certain Richmond Hill’s environmental sustainability goals were met without endangering the surrounding environment:
Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
This plan is an ecologically based plan established by the Government of Ontario to provide land use and resource management direction to the land and water within the Moraine. All decisions in regards to this area are required to conform to the Plan.
The Greenbelt Plan 2005
To provide permanent protection of the agricultural land base and ecological features and functions of the surrounding area, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing created the Greenbelt Plan to identify whereurbanization should and should not be built. This includes facilities, parklands, open space areas, trails and water-based activities.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
To ensure an optimal balance between the site’s development and the natural features in the area, plans for the community centre and waterfront park incorporated LEED initiatives, obtaining Silver LEED Certification. LEED certification demonstrates the Town's commitment to achieving our environmental goals and ensuring that the community centre is performing and being operated in an efficient and cost effective manner. It will also ensure that residents will benefit from a community centre and waterfront park that imposes reduced natural resource consumption and a minimized strain on local infrastructure, resulting in a safe and healthy environment for our community to enjoy.
LEED is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings that promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development; water efficiency; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality. The points obtained from these five credit categories qualify buildings for certification (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum).
Facility Programming
Committed to creating stronger connections, Richmond Hill responded to the changing needs of its community by providing a new facility that offers a variety of programs, along with a unique facility for its residents. Programs and services are available for all ages at the Oak Ridges Community Centre, from preschoolers to older adults. The ORCC offers something for everyone!
The following is an overview of the Recreation and Culture programs and services available.
Older Adults
Pleased to expand its older adult programming, the Oak Ridges Community Centre offers a program room dedicated specifically for Richmond Hill’s 55+ residents. Programs complement many of those already available at the McConaghy Seniors’ Centre, including bridge, euchre pickleball, carpet bowling, basketball, badminton and table tennis, among many others.
Youth Activities
Richmond Hill is committed to providing its youth with a variety of programs and activities to keep active and entertained and, though the dedicated program room at the ORCC, youth will enjoy hanging out with their friends and keeping busy. There are lots of activities available, too, like badminton, basketball, volleyball, hoops, table tennis and net ball.
Preschool
Preschoolers will be introduced to sports and dance while encouraging creativity and imagination through art activities.
Children
Encouraging non-competitive fun, children will experience a variety of programs and activities designed to keep them busy and active while having fun!
Adult
Learn about and live an active lifestyle through the programs offered at the ORCC.
Family
Doing things together as a family is very important and being active as a family is a great way to spend time together. Enjoy the programs offered to families to stay fit and active this summer.
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