The Collingwood Fitness Centre - Contact Centre Will Be Replaced By New Wellness Centre to be constructed at Heritage Park

Collingwood Council has approved funding for the construction of a new wellness centre at Heritage Park. Council voted in favour of including the project in the 2010 municipal budget despite another heated debate at the council table.

Councilor Sonny Foley continued to argue against the project. Foley has often stated his views in support of the creation of a multi-used facility for the town, rather than the construction of various facilities at different locations throughout the municipality.

Town staff had recommended delaying the project but after reviewing the budget numbers, council decided to move forward with construction in 2010. Work began in the fall of 2009 to prepare the land for construction. In a 6-3 vote, council voted in favour of spending a total of 2.94 million dollars on the Heritage Park project which will include much needed repairs to the existing outdoor Centennial Pool.

The former Connaught School, now known as the Collingwood Fitness Centre or Contact Centre, has been designated as a heritage building. The new facility at Heritage Park, when completed, will replace the existing fitness centre on Napier Street. The Town of Collingwood owns the former east-end school and council recently passed a by-law to give the building a heritage designation.