The City of Parksville is closing the Parksville Community Centre (PCC) as a rental facility due to increasing operating costs.
“The annual cost to the city to operate the PCC is no longer sustainable. We will continue to work with the PCC to ensure a smooth closure,” said Deb Tardiff, manager of communications for the city.
The city said it will work with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island (BGCCVI) to determine future uses for the facility after Dec. 31. The city submitted a funding application to the Ministry of Children and Family Development for renovations to allow the PCC to host a new licensed childcare facility.
“We expect to be notified in March and should our application be successful at that time, council will set the terms for a long-term lease with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island,” said Tardiff.
The renovations would begin in April and the facility would reopen in September. The city will retain the right to access the PCC for events such as elections, all candidates’ forums and as an emergency reception centre. The Oceanside Emergency Support Services and Oceanside Community Safety offices will continue to operate from the building.
Council expressed concerns in 2016 about significant cost increases each year to operate the facility. The city asked KPMG, an accounting firm, to conduct a comprehensive business analysis of the PCC, followed by a strategic planning session to assist the Parksville Community Centre Society (PCCS) board with its business plan and future success.
