Editor: Canmore is a small community with a fantastic recreation centre. This complements the older recreation centre that has existed for decades.
Canmore is a very active community. The facilities it has are a reflection of this. It also has a large number of private health facilities (including yoga studios, workout gyms, Pilates studios, climbing programs, etc.). All of this is to be applauded in a community of this size.
Unfortunately, this natural competition between public and private facilities is in danger. I hold Town of Canmore council largely responsible for this. I understand that a number of private businesses are putting pressure (both directly and indirectly) on town council to reduce its service footprint, in order to benefit the private operator’s prospects.
Indeed, management at Elevation Place is now reducing the class timetable in response to this pressure. For example, yoga classes are being cut from six per week to three per week. Other core programs will see similar cuts. Despite these programs being extremely popular.
This is the first time I have heard of anything like this. I am fairly conservative in my political leanings, but even I accept that certain facilities should be provided by local government to benefit the wider community. These include hospitals, schools and recreation facilities, amongst other things.
The ultimate goal is that each of these becomes successful in its own right, and success should be celebrated. Since opening, Elevation Place’s membership numbers have exceeded most expectations. And now it seems the private sector is fighting back.
But this fight back is not by improving their own programming, or facilities, or teaching standards. No, they are fighting back by trying to stifle the competition.
In putting pressure on town council to reduce Elevation Place’s programming, they should all be ashamed of themselves. How dare the private sector force public cuts to line their own pockets?
Perhaps Canadian Rockies Public Schools should lower the teaching standards in the public schools, to benefit the private schools in the area. And Canmore Hospital – why not cut its opening hours, so that local residents are forced into public health facilities?
So to the ladies and gentlemen of town council – this is the thin end of the wedge. Please have the strength and courage to explain to the private sector that Canmore is proud of its excellent public recreational facilities and it will not be cutting back on programming. Indeed, if classes continue to be full each week, there is scope to open more classes. Canmore is a healthy, energetic town, and people want a recreation centre to match that.
Local businesses – where there is a need, there is an opportunity. Those of you that are providing excellent teaching, facilities or a niche product (or all three) will survive and prosper. Those that provide a poorer experience will close and provide opportunities for others.
This is how the world should work. Competition benefits us all in the long run. Memberships at Elevation Place are not heavily subsidized, and do not provide for all the recreation needs of the community.
Find your place within this world and prosper. Do not use lobbying to get your own way. At the expense of residents.
My final word to all taxpaying residents. If my arguments above have not sufficed, then remember that as memberships at Elevation Place fall from over 4,000 (1/3 of the town) to much smaller numbers, resulting from the gradual withdrawal of classes, who will be footing the bill?
Running costs will remain the same, so with membership revenues falling as we all decide to leave Elevation Place, the centre will become more fully subsidized by the Town. By us all.
The success of Elevation Place is becoming its biggest danger. How disappointing. The time is now for council to remember it represents the entire population of Canmore, not a few small businesses. Celebrate your success, don’t be embarrassed by it.
Tom Wanless,
Canmore
