The Wellness Centre

The idea behind the North End Wellness Centre grew from the remains of a local recreational and developmental facility that was once a landmark within Winnipeg’s North End.  When the former ‘North End Y’ closed in 1995, a sense of loss was felt in many ways, and across many parts of the north end of the city.  In response, a number of ideas for redevelopment were identified, assessed and pursued in some fashion or another.  The North End Wellness Centre is the response that has taken form through strength of conviction and partnership, growing into an entity that is capable of meeting both current and future community expectations.

NECRC has been working diligently in partnership with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, YMCA/YWCA of Winnipeg, SPLASH Childcare, the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre to redevelop the Mountain and McGregor site as a community facility.  It is intended that the Centre will be a community-driven initiative, designed to reflect resident demands for a local gathering place, that focuses on wellness, operates according to community standards, and is inclusive and accessible to all.  It is also intended to serve as a source of pride and visibility to the strength, capacity and redevelopment of the North End.
 
Since 2003, the partnership, through the NECRC has worked to access government funding for this important community project. Over $2.0 million has been accessed to date.  It is anticipated that a formal fund raising campaign will be initiated in the community in the immediate future to complement these efforts.  We expect that ground breaking for the new community Wellness Centre for the North End will occur in early summer, 2005.

376 McGregor Street will be the site of a new 25,000 square foot multi-service North End Wellness Centre. The facility will be owned by North End Wellness Inc. and filled with dynamic programming by Ma Mawi WI Chi Itata Centre, YMCA-YWCA, Splash Child Care Inc, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The centre will include: a gymnasium with a basketball court, game facilities, play structure, and “youth-sized” fitness equipment; a youth recreation centre with a climbing tower; an indoor skateboard park; a unique state of the art child-care facility; a community kitchen; and community meeting spaces.

The project addresses a community identified need for a local North End centre that focuses on wellness and is inclusive and accessible to all. The goals of this community-driven initiative include:

  • Encouraging daily physical activity for children and youth
  • Promoting recreation opportunities for persons of all ages
  • Eliminating financial barriers to participation in recreational activities
  • Providing increased quality child-care options in Winnipeg’s North End
  • Facilitating cooperation and sharing among established community organizations
  • Creating increased opportunities for volunteerism
In 2006 NECRC signed agreements with the architect and demolition contractor, facilitated cash-flow, and wrote reports on funding received for the development of the project. In 2007 architectural plans were finalized and the demolition of the old North End “Y” was completed. In 2008 ground-breaking took place and the construction began. The building is now nearly completed. The Centre will open its doors this summer.