New aquatics and community centre
may be coming to New Westminster

> Another round of consultation being made by city

Colten Kamlade
Staff Reporter

 

he City of New Westminster
has begun the second stage
of consultation for the proposed
Aquatics and Community Centre,
and public appears to be on-board.

The new centre was identified as a
priority due to the aging of the Canada
Games Pool and Centennial Community
Centre, which the city decided needed to
be replaced. Public engagement began in
the summer of 2016, and was followed by
a feasibility study in 2017. Now the city
is consulting with residents yet again.

According to the Coquitlam City
website, 98 per cent of respondents
believed that community and
aquatic centres are important to the
community of New Westminster. It
was discovered through information
gathered during consultation that
swimming lessons, fitness classes, and
pickleball are among the top priorities
for residents. Some of the amenities
would include a leisure aquatics tank,
aquatics program tank, an enhanced
fitness centre, and a childcare facility.

The proposed centre would be a
$100 million, 114,295 sq. ft. facility if
created. According to an article from
the New West Record, construction
would begin in 2020 if the public
consultation process is successful.

According to the Community
Centre Feasibility Study, one of
the benefits of a new Aquatic and
Community Centre would be its
contribution to the identity of the city.

“The new Aquatic and
Community Centre provides the City
of New Westminster with the unique
opportunity to develop a community
asset that will reinforce the community’s
cultural identity as an active healthy
city by providing an important social
and recreation gathering place for all its
diverse residents,” the document stated.

Paul Fast, a principal with MCMA
Architecture, told the New West Record
that the project will have an effect on
the age of those who come and utilize
the services that the facility offers.

“You have a very loyal, older group
of residents that are using the facilities
currently, that have been for a very long
time, but there’s a gap there in terms
of the younger generation that isn’t

showing up at your facilities currently in
the same numbers that we see in other
facilities across the Lower Mainland,” he
is reported to have said. “What this study
tells us, what this survey told us, is those
people will be influenced in terms of
coming and participating in this facility.”

Spots still remaining at Douglas
College's dental clinic

> Cheaper dental services available on April 11 and 14

Katie Czenczek
Staff Writer

 

| ow pearly are your whites?
On Wednesday, April 4, a total

of 165 elementary school students from
Fraser River Middle School and Ecole
Qawgawt came to Douglas College to
receive dental services from Douglas
College dental assistant students. The
clinic offered dental services such as
tooth polish, sealants, fluoride, and
x-rays for $10, with the services being
provided by students in the program.
Scaling is provided by dental hygienists
who are currently in practice.

Stacey Rhodes-Nesset, program
coordinator for experiential quality and
clinic operations at Douglas College,
explained how the clinic works in an
interview with the Other Press.

“It’s always been an annual event in
the winter semester to recruit patients
into preventative care,” she said.

Rhodes-Nesset also said that the
clinic is a great opportunity for dental
assistant students to have hands-
on training during their studies.

“It’s very important for these
students to have clinical learning
experiences as an opportunity to
integrate their theory knowledge
and skills they've learnt in
simulation,” she said.

She also feels that it is a
win-win for dental assisting

 

students and the community.

“The clinic’s focus is on patient
safety and quality patient-centered care
in a supportive learning environment,”
Rhodes-Nesset said. “Preventative
dental clinics are important to
students as a whole because they can
learn about the importance of oral
and general health, [and] ways to
prevent dental and gum disease.”

When asked if the clinic would be
able to provide services to those needing
more advanced care, Rhodes-Nesset
said that they still can be looked after.

“We do our best to accommodate
all patients, and we know reduced fees
can help give access to preventative
services. However, if we’re unable
to meet a patient’s needs, we're
able to make referrals to other low-
cost dental clinics in the area.”

Morgan Hannah, a Douglas College
student, said in an interview with the
Other Press that she feels that the clinic
could do with additional advertising.

“The intent was a good idea, but I
think that there should be more frequent

booths and posters to promote the
services,” Hannah said. “That way, more
[students from Douglas] would attend.”
Hannah also highlighted
that she, personally, would
love to attend the clinic.
“Tam in need of dental work
badly. The first thing you notice
about someone is their smile, so good
dental hygiene is a must,” she said.
Another Douglas College student,
Lekhika Mehra, suggested ways that
the clinic can gain more awareness in
an interview with the Other Press.
“The same way that the DSU
displays posters for pub night, they
could also promote the dental clinic.’
Mehra also discussed how
discounted services can greatly
benefit Douglas College students.
“Going to the dentist is way too
costly. Being a student, it’s hard to be
able to afford that, and these services
could help those who aren't covered.”
Nigel Tulut, a Douglas College
student, also agreed that there should
be more advertising for the clinic.

>

Several meetings have taken
place over the last few months,
and an online survey will be open
until April 27 for those who wish to
participate. More information on
how to get involved is available at the
City of New Westminster website.

“T only ever found out about the
clinic from walking through the one
hallway that advertises it on my way to
class. Maybe they should have it on the
front page of Douglas’ website, or more
posters around the campus,” he said
in an interview with the Other Press.

He also highlighted the other ways
that a lack of student attendance at
the clinics might impact the college.

“I can see it being a waste
of money if students aren't
going to the clinic,” he said.

The clinic is paid for by the
Dean of Health Sciences, Pamela
Cawley, and the Douglas College
Senior Management Team.

Rhodes-Nesset admitted
that “it’s expensive” to run the
clinics, but that giving back to
the community is important.

“The community partnerships
we have with the elementary
schools are important, and we have
had a long relationship working
with these patients,” she said.

 

Douglas College website