Township of Wellesley Recreation Complex

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Fall Community Programming

Please join us for these upcoming classes at the Bill Gies Recreation Centre

FUNdamental Fitness - The focus of this 60-minute class will be on fun and variety! Classes will include a little bit of everything to keep you fit and strong - intervals, circuits, dance, strengthening, balance, stretching and most importantly fun. This class is suited for participants who have done exercise classes in the past and are ready for non-stop action!

Tuesdays from 10 - 11am. Begins October 15 for 10 weeks. The cost is $80 + tax and your amazing instructor is Lynne!

Healthy Hearts - This 60-minute class will focus on cardio movements to strengthen the heart as well as strength, balance and flexibility exercises to improve overall quality of life. This is a great class for someone who is newer to exercise but all levels of fitness are welcome.

Instructor: Lynne Rutledge - Tuesdays 11am - 12pm. Begins October 15 for 10 weeks. The cost is $80 + tax.

Low Impact Fitness Class - This class will focus on functional movements designed to strengthen and stabilize your body while being mindful of any existing injuries. Perfect for all fitness levels, this class ensures a safe and supportive environment where you can build strength, improve your day to day function, and enhance overall well-being. Come experience the benefits of mindful exercise with us!

Instructor: Amanda Hergott - Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:00am. Begins October 15 for 10 weeks. The cost is $95 + tax

Instructor: Amanda Hergott - Wednesdays 6 - 7pm. Begins October 16 for 10 weeks. The cost is $95 + tax

High Impact Fitness Class - Ready to push your limits and break a sweat? This high-impact workout class is designed to challenge your endurance and elevate your fitness game. Expect exercises that test your strength and stamina in an energetic, motivating environment. Perfect for those who thrive on intensity and are looking to achieve new personal bests!

Instructor: Amanda Hergott - Thursdays 6:30 - 7:30am. Begins October 17 for 10 weeks. The cost is $95 + tax

Instructor: Amanda Hergott - Fridays 12 - 1pm. Begins October 18 for 8 weeks. The cost is $83 + tax

Gentle Hatha Yoga - Join a calming group to practice your breathwork and body awareness. We'll move through yoga poses to help encourage balance, build strength, and increase range of motion. As we progress through the classes, we'll graduate to more challenging poses that are still attainable for all participants. We will end each class with soothing poses and a small meditation. Please bring with you your mat and water (blocks, straps, and a light blanket if you have them).

Instructor: Robin Palermo - Thursdays 7 - 8pm. Begins October 24 for 8 weeks (includes Halloween) The cost is 90+ tax

Chair Yoga with Roz - This chair yoga is a practice made up of gentle exercises and stretches that will increase strength, flexibility, balance and body awareness. The class will provide a safe environment for everyone, while letting each person participate at the own pace and comfort level. The exercises are done both sitting and standing (with the option of using a chair for balance in standing poses). Participants will need to bring their own yoga mat and water bottle.

Instructor: Roz Kays - Wednesdays 1 - 2pm. Begins October 16 for 10 weeks. The cost is $80 + tax

July 30, 2024 - New Basketball Drop-in program - FREE

Join us for a new drop-in Basketball program with dates and times available for everyone! Bring your water bottle, a change of indoor shoes and enjoy shooting hoops with family and friends. Waivers will be available at the beginning of each drop-in session. For children and youth 17 years of age and under, a parent/guardian will need to sign on their behalf. All children and youth 15 years of age and under will require a parent/guardian to sign them into the program and sign them out of the program. If you have any questions please contact us at recreation@wellesley.ca or call 519-699-3958.

Wednesday, July 31, 8 - 10am, 13 years of age and older
Wednesday, August 7, 8 - 10am, 13 years of age and older
Friday August 9, 5 - 7pm, Family time, everyone welcome
Friday, August 9, 7 - 9pm, 13 years of age and older
Sunday, August 11, 10 - 11:30am Family time, everyone welcome
Monday, August 12, 8 - 10am 13 years of age and older
Monday, August 12, 7 - 9pm 13 years of age and older
Wednesday, August 14, 8 - 10am 13 years of age and older
Friday, August 16, 5 - 7pm Family time, everyone welcome
Friday, August 16, 7 - 9pm 13 years of age and older
Sunday, August 18, 10 - 11:30am Family time, everyone welcome
Monday, August 19, 8 - 10am, 13 years of age and older
Wednesday, August 21, 8 - 10am, 13 years and older
Friday, August 23, 5 - 7pm, Family time, everyone welcome
Sunday, August 25, 10 - 11:30am, Family time, everyone welcome

June 10, 2024 - Pickleball Information

Summer Pickleball hours in the gymnasium at the Bill Gies Recreation Centre are:

Tuesday - 10:00am - 12:00pm and 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Wednesday -1:00pm - 3:00pm

Thursday - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

To register you must create an account on PickupHub.net. Dates are available a week in advance for registration. Please note, if a date does not appear on PickupHub, it means the facility is booked for another event. Continue to look at future dates and see when there is availability.

If you have any questions please contact us at recreation@wellesley.ca or call 519-699-3958

April 25, 2024- Changes to our recreation programing/memberships and building hours

Effective Monday April 29, Annual walking track memberships will be available! If you want access to the walking track from 5am-11pm daily, you can now purchase a walking track membership. An individual membership cost is $25 + HST. A family walking track membership is available for $25 + $10 per additional family member up to 5 people from the same household. 1 key fob will be issued per family. Additional fobs will be available for a price of $15 each. Each membership holder will be required to sign a waiver. If you want to only use the walking track from 7:30am – 4:15pm Monday-Friday a membership is not required. No waiver required.

Also, effective April 29, Fitness Gym memberships and Walking track memberships will be available without parental or guardian supervision to patrons 16 years and older. A parent or guardian must accompany patrons 16 and 17 years old to sign the waiver form on behalf of their child.

Pickleball is here! Starting April 30 drop in Pickleball will be offered at the Bill Gies Recreation Centre gymnasium. For the month of May this will be a free program offered. After June 1 fees will apply. Bring your own paddles, balls will be supplied. Waivers must be signed by all participants and can be picked up from the front desk of the Bill Gies Recreation Centre from 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday or they will be available at each session for you to fill out. 1 waiver required for the month of May. If you would like a waiver emailed to you, please contact recreation@wellesley.ca These sessions are open to ages 14+ and for all abilities. There are 3 courts available so there may be wait times at times. Pickleball sessions will happen on,

Tuesday’s from 10:00am-12:00pm & 7:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday’s from 10:00am-12:00pm & 7:00pm-9:00pm

There will be more drop-in programs offered in the near future for other activities, so stay tuned!

If you have any questions please reach out to the Recreation team at recreation@wellesley.ca or call 519-699-9369.

Thank you for your continued interested in Recreation in Wellesley Township!

February 7, 2024 - Bill Gies Recreation Centre Update

Mark your calendars!

Monday, February 26 is the day all facility key pick-ups and payments will be moved to the Bill Gies Recreation Centre. Should you have any questions or concerns you may call, email or drop-in for a visit. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Phone: 519-699-9369

Email: recreation@wellesley.ca

Location: Bill Gies Recreation Centre, 1401 Queens Bush Road, Wellesley, ON N0B 2T0

January 2024 - Frequently Asked Questions

Township of Wellesley Recreation Complex FAQ

When will the recreation centre be complete?

We are on schedule with the main aspects of the Bill Gies Recreation Centre expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2024. The contractor will remain on-site into 2024 completing different areas within the facility and grounds.

Is the project on budget?

Yes, the Township had a contingency fund budgeted to cover any unexpected expenses. We do not expect to exceed this fund.

When will the ice be ready and the arena open?

The arena and dressing rooms opened on November 17, 2023. For ice rentals please call 519-699-9369 or email mlamontagne@wellesley.ca

Why was the original open date for the arena moved from October 17?

In order to best accommodate the ice user groups, we pushed to have the ice ready by October 17. We met this goal; however occupancy of the building was not possible. To achieve occupancy, all safety systems such as sprinklers, lighting, railings, fire alarm, etc. must be entirely complete. While this could have been possible, the extra cost was prohibitive, and use of the arena would have been so restrictive that a positive user experience would not be possible. It was felt best to move the date back one month.

Why wasn’t ice put in the old arena until the new one opened?

Making and maintaining ice is expensive. Additionally, the ice plant in the old arena has a leak and would have required at least a $23,000 repair. Due to the age of the system, the refrigeration contractors indicated it would be very possible to require additional repairs once the refrigeration plant was started. It was felt it would be unwise to spend this money for the short time before the new arena would open. The cost on top of the repairs to put ice in would have been approximately $10,000 plus monthly hydro costs of approximately $8,000-$10,000 per month.

When will the fitness centre be open?

The fitness centre room itself is expected to be open in the first quarter of 2024. Equipment has been purchased and will be moved in once the space has been fully completed. In November 2023, the township was successful in receiving a Trillium Grant of $149,100 to purchase equipment for both the fitness centre and gymnasium.

What will the cost be for a fitness centre membership?

Our fees and charges by-law will be approved at the first council meeting of 2024 on January 9. For recreation fees and charges please click the link below to the November 28 council meeting and scroll to pages 91 - 94 to see the proposed rates. https://calendar.wellesley.ca/council/Detail/2023-11-28-1845-Council-Meeting/b3b46890-ddd1-4c87-9f7c-b0c4011c3317

When will the youth and seniors centres be open?

We expect these spaces to open and operational in the first quarter of 2024.

When will the walking track be open?

The walking track officially opened Monday, February 12 beginning at 8:00am

What will the walking track hours be?

The walking track hours are Monday - Sunday from 8am - 10pm. Please Note: The walking track will be closed during all AppleJacks home games beginning an hour before puck drop. Please visit the AppleJacks website to see home games schedule: http://www.wellesleyapplejacks.com/

Will the soccer fields be ready for next year?

Yes, soccer will move to the new fields in 2024.

When can we use the all-wheels park?

The all-wheels park will open Spring 2024. The sidewalks/trails around it need to be completed first for accessibility and safety reasons.

Will Fall Fair and ABC be at the new recreation centre?

The Wellesley Township Fall Fair has announced they will move to the new recreation centre in 2024. The ABC festival will remain in the Village of Wellesley's downtown core. Please visit their websites for event information.

When will the Wellesley Community Health Centre open?

The Jones Family Health and Wellness Place is scheduled to open the second quarter of 2024. However, the WCHC is a tenant at the recreation centre and will make their own determination when to move and begin operations at their new location.

Can we still rent the old Community Hall and arena when the new recreation centre is open?

Once the new recreation centre gymnasium/community hall is open, rentals at the old location will not be available.

What will happen to the old Community Hall, arena and lands once the new recreation centre is open?

Once the new recreation centre is open, the old buildings will be closed to the public. The previous council passed a resolution that only allowed for the lands where the asphalt, arena and community hall were to be developed. The existing splash pad, ball diamonds, dog park, shelter and green spaces will not be developed. Please look for our upcoming public engagement survey in January 2024. This will be the start of many conversations concerning this land and space.

Will there be a Grand Opening?

Yes! The grand opening of the Township of Wellesley Recreation Complex has been scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2024. Please continue to visit our social media and township website for further information.

November 16, 2023- Bill Gies Recreation Centre Update

Please be advised, the Township of Wellesley Recreation Complex will have limited access and capacity and is being opened to facilitate the use of the arena ice surface and persons accompanying those using the ice rink only. We understand the excitement regarding the opening of the facility, but please keep in mind that portions of your facility are still under construction and as such the facility has a temporary limited capacity. Should you have any questions regarding the use of the facility or anything else please feel free to contact the Township of Wellesley Recreation Department at any time.

We look forward to welcoming everyone as soon as we can. Information regarding further capacity will be communicated as it opens up.

September 26, 2023 - Wellesley Township Recreation Complex Construction Delay

The scheduled opening of the new arena at the Township of Wellesley Recreation Complex located at 1401 Queens Bush Road will regrettably be delayed until approximately November 17th, 2023. The arena had been scheduled to open for limited use on October 16^th, 2023. The ice surface itself could have been ready for October 16^th, but permitting safe occupancy in the facility for the public is not achievable for that date.

When the facility opens on or about November 17^th, 2023, it is expected that all 8 dressing rooms, as well as the main floor washrooms will be fully accessible, which would not have been the case on October 16^th. This will allow for a much better user experience when the facility is opened. The remainder of the facilities including the Gym/Community Centre, Seniors and Youth Centre, fitness centre and walking track are on track to be open by the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Township Staff are working with the user groups that Council prioritized for ice allocation at the July 11, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting, including the Wellesley Skating Club, Twin Centre Hericanes, Twin Centre Stars and the Wellesley Apple Jacks to ensure their programs can continue to operate solely out of the St. Clements arena until November 17^th, 2023.

In the event there is additional ice time available at the St. Clements arena between October 16^th and November 17^th, 2023, staff will work with our regular ice users to ensure the remaining ice time is divided up in a fair and transparent manner. Our intent is to minimize any negative impacts to affected user groups.

Any updates to the opening date will be provided as they become available. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding and look forward to all users being welcomed to the new Recreation Complex as soon as possible.

Learn more about the Something 4 Everyone Campaign

November 16, 2022 - Excitement is building on the corner of Queens Bush and Hutchison Road as our new recreation centre begins to take shape right before our eyes.

With the dry summer, Blue-Con Construction was able to complete the excavation work with little interruptions from mother nature. You may have noticed the location of the recreation centre before the structure was erected because a 4’ deep excavation was dug around the perimeter of the recreation centre. The Ontario Building Code regulates the minimum depth of a footing to protect the footing from frost and heaving. If the footings are not placed below the 4’ frost line, footings can heave when the ground freezes causing a lot of problems including cracks in the foundation wall and drywall, doors not shutting properly etc.

The amazing weather carried into fall for Ball Construction to complete all the concrete work. The 4’ excavation was required for the strip footings, which provides a continuous support for exterior walls and load bearing interior walls. This type of footing spreads the weight across the total area of soil. Another type of footing located inside the recreation centre are pad footings that provide support for the columns supporting the roof and 2^nd floor. Once the strip footings have set, the foundation walls are then formed and poured centered on the footing.

The pre-fabricated steel structure was delivered on site while the foundation walls were still being poured. Frey Building Contractors, located right in Wellesley Township, was the crew erecting the steel structure above the ice pad in under a week. One crane was on site to lift the steel columns into place while the ground crew fitted the anchor bolts through the columns. Once all the columns were raised, a second crane arrived on site to help lift the steel beams into place. With a crane on each end, the beam was squared up and bolted into place. The steel girders were the next thing installed resting on the beams. The remaining steel structure, which is not prefabricated, will be erected in the coming weeks.

As part of the next steps in the project you will see the following come together:

Remaining steel structure to be erected
Block walls and insulated metal wall panels to be installed
Plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins to be completed
Core slab for second floor to be installed

Other site works will take place in 2023 including prep of outdoor amenities including multi use pad, skate park, playground and trails. Our new facility will truly be Something for Everyone and we are very excited to share in this project with you. Check back for monthly updates as the project moves forward.

December 15, 2021 - The Township of Wellesley Council voted at the December 14, 2021 Special Council Meeting held at the Linwood Community Centre, to accept a bid from Ball Construction for the construction of the new recreation facility. Council approved negotiating a contract for the development of the Wellesley Township Recreation Centre for a maximum of $27,200,000.00.

The contract includes a single pad ice rink, walking track, 8 dressing rooms (including 2 fully accessible rooms), Junior “C” dressing room, storage for community groups, a youth centre, senior centre, gymnasium that would service as a community centre as well, commercial kitchen, skate park, multi-use court, active outdoor play centre, meeting rooms, fitness rooms, 2 soccer fields and an outdoor walking trail.