Facility Closure
October 2, 2024

Dear Vecova Community Member,

Today is a challenging day for our organization. We are announcing to our team and to the public that our vision for the Centre for All Abilities, our vision for a new facility, will not become a reality. Vecova was unable to receive the necessary funding commitments to construct a new state-of-the-art facility for our work and for the community.

With this, our facility, built in 1969, has reached its best before date. The cost of renovating and modernizing the building is about 75% of the cost of building a new facility, maintenance and repairs on our main building have become too costly, and the risk of a sudden shutdown is too high.

Vecova is announcing the closure of our main 33 St NW facility and offices in fall 2025, resulting in the relocation of many of our services and administration.

Regretfully, our Aquatics, Health and Fitness facilities and related programs will permanently close at the end of June 2025. Our Bottle Depot will also be closing in the fall of 2025.

We don’t anticipate any interruption in our delivery of PDD (Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program through the Government of Alberta) services. We are working to make this as smooth a transition as possible for everyone involved.

Programs that will no longer be offered by Vecova after June 2025 include:
• All pool-related programming, including swim lessons, public swimming and aquatics classes
• All fitness and recreation programming
• Summer camps
• Adaptive recreation programs
• Facility rentals
• Bottle Depot in the fall 2025

Programs Vecova will continue to deliver include:
• Housing
• Wayfinder
• Employment Supports, including Youth Programs
• Mental Health Services
• Training
• Specialized Group Programs

We know this is news that no one wants to hear. We are announcing this now to ensure that our community is made aware of this as early as possible.

This is not the end of Vecova. Our programs and services for people with disabilities will continue to be delivered even after the building’s closure. Until then, it is business as usual.

We invite you to continue using our facility, registering for programs and bringing in your recycling to our Bottle Depot through to our closure date in 2025.

Our commitment to you is this: we will be transparent, we will answer your questions to the best of our ability, and we will provide timely updates so that our community understands what this change will mean for them.

We are holding an open house on October 17th from 4 pm to 6 pm in the Vecova Atrium for those who use our programs and facilities to drop by for more information and an opportunity to ask questions. For now, please scroll down to view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. As the situation evolves, we will be adding more information to this page.

If you have any questions not addressed in the FAQ or would like to connect with our team for more information, please send an email to [email protected]

Kelly Holmes-Binns
CEO

Michelle McKenna
Chair, Vecova Board of Directors

FAQ: Updated Nov 21, 2024

A: This is not the end of Vecova but it is a time to pivot and reimagine how our organization can continue to deliver the programs and services we are well known for.  

A: Vecova is proud of the vision it presented to the government and other potential donors. We are grateful to the City of Calgary for its commitment to funding a portion of the Centre. We are so thankful to the donors who stepped up and made private donations. However, the Centre for All Abilities failed to receive funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments. We are disappointed that we were unable to realize that vision, but Vecova is more than its four walls and our great programs and services will continue and may just look a little different.  

A: The Centre for All Abilities was intended to meet the needs of Calgarians in a greater way. For our consumers it meant a cutting-edge space for programming and services. For our recreation consumers it meant a more modern space for swimming, fitness and other activities. Vecova had a unique opportunity on this land to become something of a recreation hub for north central Calgary. Unfortunately, it was not to be.  

A: Yes. Vecova is committed to operating at the highest standards of safety and adhering to best practices. The building, while currently safe to use, has become too expensive to maintain in the future without compromising valuable resources Vecova needs as it looks ahead to the next 50 years.  

Please note that our Aquatics, Health and Fitness programming will wrap up in June 2025. Our Bottle Depot will close in the fall of 2025.  

A: Vecova is providing significant notice of this decision, so that consumers may have sufficient time to explore other ways to meet their specific needs. We will no longer be operating a pool.   

 A: Many of the staff teams working out of our main facility (3304 – 33rd St NW) location slated for closure will work from other locations over the long term. The closure of the pool, gym and fitness facilities will happen at the end of June 2025. Our Bottle Depot will close in the fall of 2025.   

We regret that this will result in loss of employment for some employees. We will provide support and assistance to those employees whose positions are impacted by this transition. 

 A: The Bottle Depot will be affected by the closure of Vecova’s main facility, partially due to the large costs to make it a stand-alone operation. We encourage consumers to continue to support us as usual by using the Bottle Depot until the fall of 2025.   

A: No. The Bottle Pickup Service will continue to operate after the closure of the Bottle Depot. We encourage the community to continue to support us as usual with donating their beverage containers using this great service. 

A: The infrastructure, maintenance of heating and cooling systems and pool operations have incurred increased costs as our building has continued to age. The cost of renovating this building is about 75% of the cost of a new facility. 

It is not sustainable for us to invest in our building without sacrificing the incredible services we offer to our consumers. 

A: Vecova is proud of the bold vision it presented to the government and donors, however, the scope of funding necessary for this vision was not able to be achieved. We have put forward our very best effort. 

A: Yes. While the building will be closing, we are viewing this as more of a relocation. Vecova will provide more information about where it will operate and its timeline for a new building in the future.   

A: Vecova is closing its pool, gym and fitness spaces in June 2025 following the wrap up of our spring classes. As of that date Vecova will no longer offer aquatics and fitness programming. This is necessary to allow us time to properly shut down the pool and other facilities and aligns with the end of our regular programs.  

Those who make use of our fitness and pool facilities will see no change until June 2025. We encourage you to continue to use and support our fitness facilities until then.  

The Bottle Depot will close in fall of 2025, when we relocate our offices and programs to a new location. 

A: This is not the end for Vecova. Your funding is more valuable than ever before. Vecova operates several supportive housing facilities across Calgary and the surrounding area and has a team operating out of Bow Corridor and Airdrie.  

Our programs and services for people with disabilities will continue but may look a bit different or be delivered out of a different location. We will have more to share on programming over the next few months as details become available.

A: At this point, it is beneficial to support the work that Vecova will continue to do in our community. We are engaging with all levels of government to seek their support and feedback on our future plans. In the future we can benefit from your public support and engagement.  

A: The Centre for All abilities plan included engaging with the community, donors, staff, and all levels of Government for support. Over the last ten years the Staff and Volunteers for Vecova worked diligently to engage and advocate for this project. It is unfortunate that the project was not fully supported and funded, but we are working to determine a new plan where we will seek even more community support.  

A: Vecova worked for years to make the Centre for all Abilities happen, but with this not happening, that is not the end of Vecova’s services. To continue waiting, lobbying, planning and being focused on that one project was becoming a negative factor upon Vecova’s progress and we needed to move forward if we are to be a long-term sustainable organization that is meeting its mission.  

A: Vecova has opened its doors and benefited from our long-term renters and the community who have accessed our main facility over the years. Those who make use of our fitness and pool facilities will see no change until June 2025.  

Vecova is providing significant notice of this decision, so that our renters may have sufficient time to explore other ways to meet their specific needs.   

A: There are many ways you can support Vecova.    

  • Remind people that Vecova is not closing, our building is closing.  Vecova will continue to operate from a new location.  
  • Continue to come and enjoy Vecova’s facilities and register for programs.  Our aquatics and recreation programs will continue until the end of June 2025.  
  • Bring your bottles to our Bottle Depot 
  • Sign up for our Bottle Pick Up service 
  • Make a donation 
  • Tell your community what Vecova programs and services mean to you 
  • Follow us on social media  (@wearevecova)

A: In 2022, the cost to build the new “Centre For All Abilities” was estimated at  $122 million. Despite the City of Calgary’s support and commitment of  $9.1 million towards the project, we were unable to secure sufficient funding from the provincial and federal governments. 

A:Close to 100 positions are impacted by the closure, about 15% of our workforce. This includes full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles.  

A: We will be working with the City of Calgary to determine the next steps for the building and potential options for the land. 

A: No. Vecova reinvests revenue from swimming lessons, facility rentals and the bottle depot into its operations, but 75% of Vecova’s funding is provided through the provincial government for people living with disabilities programming. Revenue from our facilities and social enterprises do not cover both operational and maintenance costs of the facility.

A: The Centre for All Abilities has been pursued by Vecova for a decade. The community was provided updates as there was news to share. Over that decade the project has changed and evolved with the latest details publicly available on the Vecova website. Vecova was pleased to receive a land and funding commitment from the City of Calgary as part of its advocacy on the project. Vecova only recently received notices from the federal and provincial governments on our latest applications that our project was not selected for funding.

A: The Centre for All Abilities was created as a project a decade ago and advocated for ever since. In the most recent update to the project, in 2022, the total project cost was $122 million. If Vecova were approached by potential funding partners, that plan would need to be reviewed to ensure it is the best and most viable plan for the needs of Vecova, the disability community and the surrounding community.  However, given the time it would take to review the plan and construct a building, Vecova would still need to relocate its operations now due to the current poor condition of the building to avoid the need for an emergency departure.

A: Vecova has completed several building condition assessments over the years to monitor the viability of the building.  The deteriorating condition of the building is what initiated the pursuit of a plan for a new building.  One of the assessments early on determined that the cost of renovating the building would be approximately 75% of the cost to build a new facility. The most recent assessment determined the building is well past its prime. The building was intended to be a 50 year design and Vecova is operating the building today in year 55. Renovating or replacing one area or item would not solve the problem because most of the systems and infrastructure in the facility need replacement, including HVAC, electrical and boilers, which affect the entire building.

A: Yes.  In the past six years, Vecova put forward no fewer than 6 robust and costed funding proposals to all three orders of government as follows:

 Federal/Provincial Funding 2018

 Federal Government in 2021 and 2023

Provincial Government in 2022

The City of Calgary in 2019 and 2022

In 2022 the City of Calgary was the first order of government to make a financial commitment of $9.1 million in addition to the land.  

The most recent Federal application was under consideration for a year.  While other organizations were receiving decline letters last fall, we were buoyed by the fact that we had passed the first round of reviews and had been requested to supply additional information as a next step.  Unfortunately, in February of 2024 we received notice that our project was not selected for funding due to the high volume of applications received.

Our provincial proposal was under consideration for over a year.  We were informed the proposal had support from all three ministries involved (Infrastructure, Health and Senior, Community and Social Services) and made it all the way to the final stage of the process to be considered by Alberta’s Treasury Board where it was not selected for funding.  We were notified of the decision on August 26th 2024.  

Early on Vecova formed a Capital Campaign Committee and conducted many meetings and presentations over the years with individual and corporate donors, Foundations, and community groups connected to the organization.  While there were many who supported the project, financial contributions to the project were largely contingent on significant funding from government, which never occurred beyond a $9.1 million commitment from the City of Calgary.

A: We appreciate the community’s support and concern about Vecova and this facility.  We were not approached or consulted in the decision to start a petition to keep our facility open, but appreciate the passion behind it.  Unfortunately, the building is well beyond its lifespan and needs replacement.  Even it we were to receive all the money needed for the new “Centre for all Abilities” we would still need to close the building now due to its poor condition and to avoid the risk of a sudden shutdown due to a catastrophic infrastructure failure.  We’ve overstayed our time in the building, while vigorously pursuing our vision for a new facility.  The time has come for us to depart and look for other solutions.  

 A: We have been vocal for the past ten years on the need to replace our facility.  We developed a plan, consulted the community and approached all three levels of government multiple times to pursue a replacement for our facility that would ensure our future as an inclusive recreation facility with essential programs and services for people with different abilities.  Despite putting forward our very best efforts and considerable resources, the funding required was not achieved.  Vecova is one of four pools to announce closing in the past three years due to ageing infrastructure. Vecova’s difficult decision was made to ensure that we could continue providing the majority of our current services to the Calgary community while remaining a sustainable charity for future generations.

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PRESS RELEASE–
CALGARY, ALBERTA – October 2, 2024

Vecova Announces 2025 Closure of its Main Building in Calgary’s Northwest
“Organization says building is beyond its intended lifespan and is becoming too costly to operate”

Vecova has announced it will be closing its main facility and head office on 33 Street NW in Calgary later in 2025. Vecova had been pursuing plans to construct a new “Centre for All Abilities” for the past ten years but was unable to secure sufficient required government funding to make the project a reality. The project had been supported by the city of Calgary for $9.1 million dollars.  

The current facility has been deemed to be beyond its life cycle and approximately 30 per cent of the building has already been closed due to its poor condition. The aging building, built in 1969, requires costly repairs, and the cost to renovate the current facility to bring it up to current standards would be 75 per cent of the cost to construct a new building entirely.   

“This is an exceptionally difficult day for Vecova, our team and our valued consumers, who have visited our community hub for the past 55 years to access life-changing programming and services,” says Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO of Vecova. “But Vecova will continue – we will serve as a community leader to advocate and provide solutions for people with disabilities, and we will still operate many services, including housing. We will also continue to forge positive conversations with all levels of government to ensure accessibility and inclusivity needs are being addressed for people with disabilities. We are committed to serving as a vital organization making a difference throughout Calgary and the surrounding area.” 

Over the past 55 years, Vecova has grown into one of the country’s premier organizations providing programming and services for people with disabilities. It offers Calgary’s only full-size warm water swimming pool. 

One in five Albertans identify as having a disability. Over the past 55 years, Vecova has grown into one of the country’s premier organizations providing programming and services for people with disabilities. They offer a broad range of services in the community throughout Calgary and surrounding areas, including aquatics, health and fitness, housing services, mental health services, employment services and social enterprise, community and advocacy. The aquatics, health and fitness and social enterprise operations, including public swimming lessons and its warm water pool, are the services most affected by the upcoming closure. 

Vecova will continue to offer its onsite aquatics and fitness programming through to June 2025. The adjoining bottle depot will cease operations in Fall 2025, at which time the main building’s administrative staff will also vacate the premises. Vecova’s bottle pick up service will continue for the foreseeable future. Vecova is currently working with the City of Calgary to determine next steps for the building and site.  

In 2023, Vecova welcomed more than 350,000 visitors through its doors. While the building will no longer be operating as of Fall 2025, wherever possible Vecova’s programming and services in support of people with disabilities will continue to be delivered at different locations to meet the needs of the disability community. The organization has been and will continue to be in touch with its consumers and families to keep them up to date on how Vecova’s programs will continue to be delivered.  

Vecova’s Main Facility, which will close in 2025, is home to Vecova’s head office, bottle depot and aquatics health and fitness programs. 

“I firmly believe that Vecova is more than the four walls of our building,” said Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO, Vecova. “While we are heartbroken to have to leave our main facility, we know that we will continue to deliver our cutting-edge programs however we can.” 

The costs of maintaining major infrastructure of the aging facility have continued to rise, driven by issues with the building’s aging HVAC systems and increasing costs to maintain and operate the aquatics facility, including the warm water pool.  

“Despite our best efforts with our aging facility, the time has come where it simply isn’t sustainable to operate,” continues Holmes-Binns. “We are taking this responsible step now to provide ample notice to all who use and visit our building. The building remains safe, but it has become untenable for us to operate the facility for much longer. The Vecova building had an intended life span of 50 years, and we are now in year 55.” 

Vecova remains committed to providing the same exemplary programs and will continue to operate its housing facilities for people with disabilities as well as its employment, mental health, Wayfinder and training programs.  

For more updates on the building closure and program relocation moving forward, please visit vecova.ca. A Frequently Asked Questions section is available on the website to answer questions, and this will be updated as the situation evolves.  

Vecova consumers and members of the public who make use of the Vecova facilities are encouraged to also visit the website or email [email protected]. 

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About Vecova™ 

Vecova™ Centre for Disabilities Services and Research (Vecova) is a Calgary organization in social innovation, social impact and inclusion. Established in 1969, the nationally renowned and award-winning centre works to meet the lifelong and changing needs of persons with disabilities through programs and services, social innovation research and enterprises. Fueled by a desire to be 100 per cent inclusive, Vecova is leading the way as a registered and accredited charitable organization to build a future for people of all abilities where everyone is valued, belongs and thrives. To learn more visit Vecova.ca or find them on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. 

Press & Media Contacts:  

Paula Worthington 
[email protected]
(403) 585-2429

Mike Brown 
[email protected]
(403)  587-590-4465 

Marketing & Communications at Vecova:

Dean Dodge
Chief Development Officer
[email protected]


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