Council approves 24 additional parking spaces at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre

For Morin, the issue goes beyond simply finding a convenient place to leave a vehicle. She said four seniors fell last year, incidents serious enough that ambulances had to be called.

“Last year, we had four seniors fall, and I had to call ambulances,” Morin said. “This year, I don’t want to have to be doing that.”

Council was asked in May to examine ways to improve parking at the location. Administration returned with two options.

The first would add 10 parking spaces at a cost of $15,000. The second would provide 24 additional spaces at a cost of $90,000.

Council ultimately settled on the larger option.

The demand for parking comes from several different user groups sharing the area. In addition to the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, Northern Health uses the parking lot, while sports and recreation activities can bring additional vehicles to the area depending on the day.

Morin said baseball, basketball and other activities, along with people walking their dogs, can leave the area overwhelmed with vehicles.

“And when we’re all parked out there, there’s nowhere to park,” she said.

According to Morin, drivers resort to parking on the street and grass when the available spaces fill up.

“When there’s a lot of activity there, there’s nothing you can do to find a parking spot.”

Council heard the parking issue was also potentially affecting HandyDART access, with the transit service looking at forgoing service to the location because of the problems.

Administration was able to find money for the parking expansion within an existing funding source.

Coun. Kyle Sampson praised city staff for returning with a solution earlier than had originally been anticipated under his notice of motion.

“They were able to say, we actually have enough money in the existing budget to advance this and get it done,” Sampson said.

“And that’s the right thing to do. When we have those funds and we can get things done and deliver a better service, that’s what we should be doing. I’m proud of staff for doing that.”

The discussion also turned to Northern Health and whether it should contribute toward the project, given its use of the parking area.

“Northern Health should be stepping up,” Sampson said. “This is their tenant in their building. It just so happens that the lands adjacent to it are our lands.”

Giddens said the city wants to be a good partner by improving access to the park and supporting seniors who use the facility, but said Northern Health should also come to the table.

For the seniors who attended the council discussion, however, the immediate concern is getting more parking in place.

Morin believes the extra 24 spaces could make a significant difference, particularly if the parking closest to the seniors centre remains available to its older users.

“I do think 24 additional stalls will be great, as long as the seniors can park out in the front where it’s designated,” she said.

She hopes younger people using the broader recreation area will park farther away from the building, leaving the closest spaces for seniors.

“Twenty-four is going to be great,” Morin said.

Now, she is looking toward construction.

Morin said she hopes the project will move forward quickly under the 2026 budget and, ideally, before winter conditions arrive.

“Hopefully we’ll see projects starting pretty darn quick before the snow comes.”

For centre members, the council decision represents movement on a problem they say becomes especially apparent when multiple groups are using the area at the same time.

And after seeing seniors fall last year, Morin is hoping more parking will mean safer access this time around.

by Cheryl Jahn

Council approves 24 additional parking spaces at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre

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