2020 Citizens Report

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE SERVICES DIVISION OVERVIEW General Manager: David Boag (as of December 31, 2020)

2020 DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS Reopened the Leisure Centre aquatics area after extensive rehabilitation and renovations Telosky Stadium Official Opening held in October (physically distanced) Official Opening of Beckett Park held in July Began phase two construction of the Albion Community Centre Established BC Summer Games Legacy Committee Initiated the Community Ambassador Program in City parks during COVID-19 Delivered Virtual & COVID-19 safe Canada Day, Remembrance Day & Celebrate the Night Events, Summer Happenings (10 weeks running) and modified weekly Farmer’s Market Commenced design for the Silver Valley Gathering Place project Completed community consultations for new parks & park upgrades 50% increase in monitored trail use in 2020 546,771 vehicles counted across five parking lots at popular parks spaces

Scott Hartman, General Manager, took over leadership of the PRC Division following the recent retirement of David Boag in March of 2021. The Parks, Recreation & Culture (PRC) Division consists of two departments: Parks & Facilities and Recreation & Community Engagement. The Parks & Facilities Department has three main areas including Parks Planning & Development, Facility Maintenance & Operations and Parks Operations & Services. Recreation & Community Engagement (RCE) provides recreation, culture and social programs, services and spaces for residents and visitors of Maple Ridge. The Division is responsible for the planning, development, operation and delivery of parks, recreation and cultural services to the citizens of Maple Ridge as well as the planning, development, and maintenance of all municipally owned buildings.

Parks & Facilities Department Director of Parks & Facilities: Valoree Richmond

Recreation & Community Engagement Director of Recreation & Community Engagement: Danielle Pope

In the summer of 2020, some of the COVID Health Orders were relaxed to allow small gatherings. Our Parks, Recreation and Culture team moved quickly to roll out a series of ‘Summer Happenings’ that included ‘socially distanced’ concerts in Memorial Peace Park and a genius idea to paint a white rectangle on the wall of the Golden Ears Curling Club and use the parking lot for an improvised Drive In Theatre. Darlene Slevin and Troy Peterson were there Saturday nights with a crew directing cars to their designated spots and making sure the projector and FM transmitter were working. Families enjoyed a much-needed night out of the house and our entertainers enjoyed a live audience. Clearly, the force was with them!

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