The Premier of Ontario has declared a province-wide state of emergency and issued a stay-at-home order in response to rising COVID-19 variant infection rates.
Mon, 14 Sep 2020
The Town of Oakville’s new state-of-the-art Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (OTCC), located at 325 Reynolds Street on the former site of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, will open its doors on September 19, 2020, for pre-booked fitness activities and facility tours.
“My Council colleagues, town staff and I are excited to bring this new community centre to southeast Oakville to fill the facility gap that has existed in the area for years,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “The Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre design respects the local heritage district and will be a welcomed addition to the neighbourhood.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville’s usual tradition to host large-scale grand opening celebrations will not be possible given current public gathering restrictions. Instead, guided facility tours will be offered from September 19 to 30 and can be pre-booked at oakville.ca starting September 14. Residents can also pre-book select drop-in activities from September 21 to October 18 at active.oakville.ca.
The new community centre design was developed using an Integrated Project Delivery approach to design and construction with Graham Construction and Engineering Inc. and Diamond Schmitt Architects. It is a LEED-certified facility boasting more than 53,000 square feet of active and passive space. In partnership with Oakville Hydro, the energy efficient building also includes rooftop solar panels, geo-thermal heating and cooling, and multiple car charging stations.
The fully-accessible facility also features a 25-metre lap pool, therapeutic warm water pool, double gymnasium, fitness centre with running track, universal change rooms, multipurpose meeting rooms, space for intergenerational programming, café, and more. While most amenities will be ready in September, finishing touches are taking place on the pool with plans to open in early October. Once all amenities are complete, members of the public will have the opportunity to see the facility by signing up for additional pre-booked tours to be offered on October 17, as part of the centre’s official opening celebration.
“This facility was designed with extensive input from the community and the end result exceeds our expectations," said Julie Mitchell, director of Recreation and Culture. “This new community centre will offer a variety of recreation and culture programs and amenities to support Oakville residents’ health and wellness needs.”
A new neighbourhood park adjacent to the community centre creates new opportunities for residents to enjoy recreational activities and nature, including soft landscaping and trees, accessible seating, a play structure, a water play area, lawn areas, pavilion, and bicycle parking.
The construction of the OTCC is part of the town’s Former Hospital Site Project, to create a vibrant new community centre, neighbourhood park, and future residential area and seniors-oriented housing district to meet the needs of Oakville residents. Redevelopment of the former hospital lands is being rolled out in phases with the building of the Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre and neighbourhood park as a first priority.
Fall program registration opens Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at 7 a.m. Beginning October 19, registered aquatics and recreation programs will be offered for a shortened eight-week session at OTCC. A complete listing of available programs can be found at programs.oakville.ca.
For more information about OTCC or to book a guided tour, please visit the OTCC page.