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The Brampton Guardian
New community centre is more than just a sports complex
Friday September 5 2008
Residents in northwest Brampton have a new police station, community rooms and sports facilities with the opening of the city’s largest community centre this month.
But the centre will also offer a fitness centre the entire city can enjoy, and Brampton’s first figure skating rink.
Residents are invited to a celebration next Saturday for the official opening of the Cassie Campbell Community Centre on the northwest corner of Sandalwood Parkway and Chinguacousy Road.
The centre is open right now, as is the new Community Police Station housed inside, but the official opening will be a special event with a free barbecue lunch, sports demonstrations, and a chance to meet Cassie Campbell.
The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The centre is more than just a sports complex— it contains the city’s first community gymnasium, an indoor running track, community meeting rooms and the community police station. The 165,000 square foot centre also contains a swimming pool and ice rink, in addition to the figure skating rink and fitness centre.
Outside the centre there are tennis courts, basketball courts, splash pads, a neighbourhood park and three outdoor soccer fields, two of which convert to cricket pitches.
Public input was used to decide what programs and amenities would be included in the construction of the new recreation centre, according to city officials.
It’s named after Campbell, a three-time Olympian and former captain of Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team, who Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell has called a “hometown hero”.
“It is truly a surreal moment for me to have a community centre in my hometown named after me,” Campbell said when the decision to name the centre was made in 2006. “I am still pinching myself at the thought of it all. Growing up in Brampton and participating in many sports and going to many community centres I know first hand how important this building will be especially for our youth, and for that I am extremely proud.”
Campbell, 34, retired from competitive hockey in August of 2006 and is the only Canadian hockey player, male or female, to captain two Canadian teams to Olympic gold medals.
Construction on the centre started in the fall of 2006.
The Peel police community station inside the centre is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and it provides area residents with a place to report traffic complaints, minor thefts, thefts from vehicles, traffic crashes, landlord-tenant disputes, mischief, disorderly conduct, school problems, found property, neighbour disputes, and community issues. Residents can also obtain a variety of crime prevention information, from personal safety to protection of property.
Officers at the station can also provide general information and answer questions. The station can be reached at 905-456-6143.
For more information about the new community centre and its programs, visit www.brampton.ca or call 905-840-4041.