Editor:

The dreams of many are closer to realization with the recent unanimous vote by White Rock council approving the building start of the Integrated Centre for Health Improvement at Centennial Park.

Kudos to all parties involved in bringing to reality this much anticipated and needed centre.

Shovels are in the ground now, with completion of the new curling club facility next spring and the Centre for Health Improvement next summer.

The Integrated Centre for Health Improvement will incorporate the former Mel Edwards Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre at Centennial Park, along with other health agencies dealing with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis, plus the expanded White Rock Curling Club.

The two main facilities will share a common entrance, elevator, lobby and meeting rooms.

This integrated complex grew out of a need to expand the current cardiac rehab facilities to meet increasing demand. A steering committee made up of the Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation, Fraser Health Authority, City of White Rock, Province of B.C. and the White Rock South Surrey Community Foundation came together to determine a plan of action to best fulfill the needs of the community.

It was quickly identified that expansion of the existing Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre would not meet long-term needs. Thus, the idea of a new facility in the near vicinity was put forward.

An idea put forward by Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordon Hogg to integrate with the White Rock Curling Club expansion to share and maximize building costs was also incorporated into the plans.

Fundraising for the rehabilitation and health improvement side of the project was placed under the Partners in Caring program headed by the Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation and its partners, WRSS Community Foundation, the City of White Rock and Fraser Health Authority. Contributions from the City of White Rock, the B.C. government, the federal government, curling club initiatives, the White Rock Rotary Club, RBC Dominion Securities and many others have brought this project to reality.

As the WRSS Community Foundation was instrumental in the establishment of the current Cardiac Rehab Centre –named in memory of one of its founding members, Mel Edwards – it is gratifying to see positive results come to be, in a spirit of co-operation and togetherness, benefiting the health of the community through rehabilitation, prevention and participation.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this magnificent community resource.

J.G. Williams, WRSS Community Foundation