The Basilica Recreation Centre — Before and Afier

On February 215‘, 1999, a bulletin was sent out to the parishioners stating that:

“The Property and Finance Committee of the parish would from now on serve as the Board of Directors for the centre. Under their direction and upon their recommendation, with the pastor’s approval (Fr. Tingley), Mr. Leonard Rogers, parish Business Administrator, serves as Executive Director.

“Changes were made in 1999 at the centre; these changes fall into two main categories: administrative and physical.

“Administrative changes were of two kinds: one, new goals and priorities were established to focus and guide the day to day business and, two, a reorganization of staff positions and responsibilities was put in place.

“Physical changes to the building included putting on a new roof, installing security gates and a video surveillance system, as well as a new front entrance. To accomplish these up-grades, it was necessary to borrow $150,000, which is being repaid in monthly instalments.

“There remain further physical changes to be made within the building to bring it up to modern standards and to provide a more amenable atmosphere for our patrons. These will be made as funds allow. Also, there remains to repay to

the parish funds outstanding from loans made over the years. We hope, too, to make some progress with this repayment.

“One long-term goal is to look seriously at a lease agreement between the parish and the Centre. This would mean the parish would lease the Centre to management for an agreed upon annual fee and allow the parish to recoup more of its investment in building and operating the Centre over these thirty years. A formal lease agreement would solidify and clarify the matter greatly and allow the parish to ‘count on’ revenue that could then be figured into the parish budget in a regular manner.

“The Centre can no longer realistically be called a parish centre. Built to be that originally, time has proven this to be no longer the case. In fact,

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