Northside Community Recreation Centre Expansion
Having received a $4.2 million grant, our Northside community is expanding this centre to be a gathering place for all our friends, neighbours and families.
Thank you to the qathet Regional District (qRD) directors and staff for making this possible!
The qRD updates their project page for the NCRC Click here
Now is the Time
The existing NCRC building offers some valuable programming, but its major limitations are evident: a maximum capacity of 85 people, inaccessible washrooms, insufficient storage space, and the absence of indoor recreation space, to name a few.
Recognizing these issues in 2019, the qRD commissioned a feasibility study to look at how the community centre could be expanded to better serve Area A Northside residents.
The new NCRC design and plan are a result of the feasibility study and community feedback.
Construction is Underway
Construction is on schedule and moving quickly!
The expanded NCRC is scheduled to be completed in March 2026
Thank you to Dawn Construction for bringing our vision to reality. ​​
Who's Included in the Service Area?
The Northside Recreation service area includes all of qRD Area A from the City of Powell River boundary north of Wildwood to Toba Inlet except Savary Island.
Tishosum (the Tla’amin village) and other Tla’amin Nation lands are also outside the service area.
How Will the Building be Managed?
The Lund Community Society (LCS) will continue to manage the building operations under a lease agreement with the qRD. The LCS is a registered charity governed by a board of Northside residents.
As is currently the case, the LCS, local groups, businesses, and community members can continue to use the space to offer programs, events and activities of their own.
How Was the Expansion Financed?
This is a $6 million project, with a joint effort by all levels of government, in cooperation with our community.
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The $4.2 million grant comes from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This will cover 70% of the maximum project costs.
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An additional $740,000 comes from existing qRD funds
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Up to $1.1 million will be borrowed by the qRD
It's important to note that the grant is specifically for this expansion to the existing NCRC facility.
Will This Raise Taxes?
The annual debt payment for this borrowing will result in a tax increase to Northside Recreation service area properties of approximately $9 per $100,000 of assessed value on a residential parcel.
This amounts to $45 on a residential property assessed at $500,000, for example. If the building can be built for less, then both the grant and the borrowing could be reduced.
This tax is for capital costs; it doesn’t cover operating costs. That said, the qRD already requisitions funds to support the current NCRC facility, and the LCS does not anticipate a substantial increase in funding.
Initial programming will be determined once funding is approved and will evolve over time, often funded by various grants supporting culture, education, wellness, seniors, youth, and families.
What Happens at the NCRC Now?
​Currently, the existing NCRC building (formerly the Lund School) is used regularly for the Puddle Jumpers Preschool, as well as part-time daycare, lactation and infant/toddler playgroups, and classes in tai chi and yoga.
Various community organization meetings, potluck dinners, bike tune-ups/workshops, and more take place from time to time. ​
So Many Possiblities!
Our community centre is the anchor of our neighbourhood, a place where young and old can come together to receive support, share ideas, be creative, stay active, and celebrate milestones.
The Northside Community Recreation Centre (NCRC) serves all residents of Area A – children, youth, families, and seniors.
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The new centre includes a commercial-grade kitchen, a stage/theatre, a half-court gymnasium, accessible washrooms and additional program spaces, and will continue to host the Puddle Jumpers Preschool.
We need this now more than ever. The existing centre won’t last forever. As many residents age and young families settle down, they are seeking more support and community services. Nearly a quarter of Canadians report feeling lonely, which impacts both physical and mental health, making social connections important. ​
Community Feedback
There have been a number of community open houses over the past few years leading up the feasibility study and funding application.
In June 2022, we held a community discussion at our LCS AGM, where a number of concerns were raised along with support for the project.
Our Facebook group page collects some feedback and we’ve created the survey link from this page for you to be heard.
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The LCS outreach activity includes a flyer in mailboxes north of Wildwood that accept unaddressed mail and posters directing folks to this webpage for information and the survey link. ​
Ideas for the New Commercial Kitchen
The kitchen upgrades will transform the current kitchen into a commercial-grade space that can support multiple local food businesses and community use.
This includes:
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preserving more crops harvested by local growers;
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food sharing, security and sovereignty programs; and
- events such as potlucks, cooking classes, pasta nights, weddings and other celebrations.
Get Involved!
If you’d like to stay in the loop about the project,
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you can also become a member of the Lund Community Society
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you can join our email list for (monthly) updates ~ link on Home page
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you can also follow our Lund Community Facebook Page or
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you can join the Lund Community Facebook Group or
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you can bookmark this page and check back at your convenience.
Quick Links
​LCS Facebook Page ~ Follow for LCS Updates ​​​​​​​
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qRD NCRC Project page ~ the NCRC new addition project page​
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qRD Community Projects page ~ all current projects​​
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qRD Park & Recreation page ~ NCRC facility under Other Recreation Services
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qRD Community Evacuation Guide ~ Lund & Surrounding Area
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qRD Facebook Page​​​​
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Important Note
Information provided by the Lund Community Society (LCS), the board and building committee is intended to be useful to community members in providing an informed decision. Any errors or omissions are purely accidental. Our webpage and committees are volunteer run, members of community being of service to the wider community.
Thank you for your contributions and comments. Please be respectful and kind.
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We hope to see you at the opening of this new facility for all Northside Recreation Area A residents in March, 2026
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​Thank you
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The Lund Community Society​