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Le

“The People Place’’.

Castlegar a four
season playground

‘The quality of life offered by a community is a major
component in determing whether one wishes to reside in
that community or not. Quality of life is determined by a
nuniber of factors and one of those main factors is the
recreational opportunities that. exist.

In Castlegar, those opportunities abound through
the natural setting and the efforts of the local Recreation
Department.

Castlegar; situated in a mountainous valley at the
mouth of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers, is an
outdoor recreation paradise, The surrounding mountains
offer some of the finest downhill skiing in the province.

Cross-country ski trails are within minutes of the
community, The rivers, in conjynetion with the Arrow
Lakes, offer excellent fishing, boating, sailing and wind
surfing. The rugged mountain terrain offers a wide
variety of hiking and climbing experiences.

To these natural opportunities,
the local Recreation Department plays a very active part
in community affairs.

The department is responsible for the operation of
the Community Complex, two arenas, one regional
overnight camping park, an outdoor: pool plus the
programming of numerous city-owned parks and
playgrounds.

The department's philosophy — “services are
P for all it " — is evident by the
high usage each of these facilities receive. :

A major component of the department is the
programming division. It is the aim of the department to
offer the widest range of recreational opportunities to the
greatest number of people at the lowest cost possible.

As a result, the programs offered vary from cake
decorating, weaving, quilting, dough art to aerobics, dog

obedience, jazzercise, volleyball and tennis for adults and

breakdancing, tap dancing, gymnastics, baby ballet to
variety hour, canoeing, art and skating for the children.

The department offers three sets of programs,
September to December, January to May, and June to
August, with the fall and winter programs proving most
popular, Within each set of programs there are between
60 and 70 different activities offered.

The with to these
activities and it is nothing to see people on registration
mer sratrig in line for over an hour for registration to

gin.

Because of the demand for and popularity of the
programs, the department coatinually attempts to offer
new and different activities.

Along with the regular program activities the
department offers numerous special events throughout
the year. These activities may be geared to children such
as Santa's visit, the Easter egg hunt, the waterslide or for
senior citizens or the community at large with suth
activities as fun runs and fitness days. id

People in Castlegar have come to expect a high

-quality of recreation experience. Be it either gained by

one’s own initiative or through the assistance of the
Recreation Department, it is certainly available.

The recreation opportunities in the area are only
going to grow. With a plan for development of 21 acres of
land known as the civic property, service chibs and local
government have taken up the challenge of providing

fi facilities and of the site.

An overnight camping facility initiated. by the
Kiwanis Club is well underway. Another service club has
made some indication that they will be developing a ball
field.

And finally, a great amount of planning is presently
going into the feasibility and planning of an indoor
aquatic-fitness centre.

Recreation makes Castlegar a nice place to live.

HAVING FUN...
(clockwise, from top
right) Cross-country
skiing on the Paulsen
Trails; making the shot
at the Castlegar curling
club, parasailing on
Christina Lake, hooking
the big one on the
Arrow Lakes, catching a
4 breeze while
boardsailing on the
Lower Arrow Lake

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43) Chahko - Mika Shopping Centre Nelson, B.C.
I

1150 Lakeside Drive © (604) 354-4496