Vecova announces closure of main building in 2025, saying it's 'simply not sustainable' to keep open
Vecova, a Calgary organization serving people with disabilities, has announced its main facility on 33 Street N.W. will close next year.
In a Wednesday news release, Vecova said the closure comes after plans to construct a new Centre for All Abilities fell through after the organization was unable to secure the government funding required to make the project a reality.
"This is an exceptionally difficult day," said Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO of Vecova. "We've served as a community hub for 55 years, offering life-changing programs and services."
Officials say the current facility, built in 1969, has been deemed "beyond its life cycle" and approximately 30 per cent of the building has already been closed due to its poor condition.
Holmes-Binns says that about 100 people will lose their job, or about 15 percent of the workforce.
Vecova says the cost to renovate the current building would be 75 per cent of the cost to construct a new building entirely.
(Initial estimates for the construction of a new building were $122 million, but that number has since inflated from 2022.)
Vecova offers a wide range of programs including aquatics, health and fitness, social enterprise ventures and employment services.
"We will continue serving as a community leader for people with disabilities," said Holmes-Binns. "We'll advocate for accessibility and continue many services, including housing."
Programs that will no longer be offered by Vecova after June 2025 include:
- All pool-related programming, including swim lessons, public swimming and aquatics classes;
- All fitness and recreation programming;
- Summer camps;
- Adaptive recreation programs;
- Facility rentals; and
- Bottle Depot in the fall 2025.
The news is troubling for parent Rhonda Stone, whose 11-year-old daughter has autism and regularly uses the facility.
"I'm feeling sad, I think it's a big loss to the parent community," said Stone.
"I've found a home here at Vecova, being able to feel safe bringing my daughter here, that her needs will be met."
Stone says there are no other places she has found that offer the same types of services.
"Now I'm back at square one, having to find programs that exist, which many don't," she said. "Many are full. Many have waitlists."
The organization is currently working with the City of Calgary to determine the building's future.
"Vecova is more than just the building," said Holmes-Binns. "We'll deliver our cutting-edge programs wherever we can."
Vecova serves more than 350,000 individuals annually.
Holmes-Binns says they are committed to relocating programs to alternate locations to minimize disruption for clients.
"Despite our best efforts, the facility is simply not sustainable anymore," said Holmes-Binns. "The building is safe, but operating it long-term has become untenable."
She says Vecova will continue providing housing, employment, mental health and other vital services.
Vecova says it applied for grant funding from all three levels of government, including securing $9.1 million from the city, contingent on grant funding from the province and federal government. It asked for more than $49 million from Ottawa.
"This was their third try for a federal government grant, and they said 'no,'" said Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp.
"So are we not doing a good enough job advocating for our own facilities, especially for those in need? And I'll be completely honest, super disappointed with the federal government."
The province, meanwhile, says Vecova requested $25 million.
In a statement from minister Jason Nixon's office, a spokesperson said there have been no changes to funding agreements or services with Vecova.
"Vecova requested $25 million from the provincial governments for their recreation facility. That project did not meet the funding requirements of the government," said press secretary Alysha Wishloff.
"Individuals accessing Vecova’s provincially funded services through the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program will not be affected by the closure of Vecova’s recreational facility."
Vecova and the province have a three-year contract that serves 201 PDD-eligible individuals, according to the province.
A spokesperson for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada provided a statement on Thursday.
"The Vecova closure is impactful and upsetting to the Calgary community. We understand the rightful emotions that accompany any impact to a centre that connects communities together," the statement read.
"The GICB program was highly competitive, with about 1,900 applications requesting over $15 billion in funding since its launch. Though we were encouraged by this response, the extremely high level of interest meant that many high-quality projects were unfortunately not able to be selected for funding.
"To maintain partner confidentiality and the integrity of application processes, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) does not share specifics on individual funding applications; HICC communicates the reasons for decisions directly to applicants and works together with them to announce funding agreements when applications are successful.
"For details on funding discussions, we invite you to contact the project owners."
For more information, you can visit Vecova.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Guelph, Ont. woman says she was pushed to homelessness and 'thrown on the street'
For people living on the fringe of society, the line between the safety and security of a home and homelessness is very thin.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
U.K. prosecutors are mulling whether to charge Russell Brand over sex assault allegations
British prosecutors say they have been given a file of evidence from police about alleged sexual offenses by comedian Russell Brand and are considering whether to charge him.
Federal mediators on site for negotiations between B.C. port employer and union
Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says federal mediators are standing by and ready to help hammer out a deal in order to avoid a labour disruption at ports across British Columbia.
Winnipeg transit union raises concerns over violence after bus driver has gun pointed at him
The executive vice-president of Winnipeg’s transit union is raising concerns over an increase in violent incidents on buses after an operator allegedly had a gun pointed at him early Friday morning in front of police headquarters.
Trump wants to narrow his deficit with women but he's not changing how he talks about them
Donald Trump's campaign has used sexist and crude language, expressing alarm at the idea of women voting differently than their partners.