ERIC KRAUSE
In
business since 1996
- © Krause House
Info-Research Solutions -
NOVA SCOTIA HEALTH
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION
APPLICATION REVIEW FACTORS
REVIEW FACTORS
A. INCREASE SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
The CCITC clearly meets a number of goals of the Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection Department. To wit:
(1) The improvement of sport and recreation opportunities for all residents of the CBRM
(2) Gender equity to increase the participation of girls and women in sport and recreation
(3) The building of healthier communities
(4) The construction of a facility for public recreation
(5) The reflection of the recent trends (healthy living), activity patterns (physical activity) and the shifting demography (aging population) of the CBRM
(6) The promotion of the Department's Active Kids, Healthy Kids strategy
(7) The encouragement of fair and safe play
B. COMMUNITY BENEFIT/IMPACT
The Cromarty Community Indoor Tennis Centre (CCITC), an approved Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) charity is presently raising funds to construct, maintain, and operate Cape Breton’s first indoor facility (one covered doubles court) designed exclusively for tennis. It will be located at the Sydney Airport Authority (a non-profit society). The proposed building is described in detail at http://www.cromartytennis.ca/ccitc/CCITCBuildingShortV.html. [Defunct Site: See Cromarty Community Indoor Tennis Centre - Proposed CCITC Public Indoor Tennis Facility ]
Built exclusively for the benefit of the public at large, and serving as a hub facility for the entire CBRM, the CCITC will place a particular focus on the young, the old, the challenged, and those unfamiliar with the game of tennis. It will provide a summer/winter, healthy lifestyle playing venue for all levels and ages of tennis players, from novice through seasoned. It will encourage high public user participation rates through an affordable hourly rate - first come, first serve - and educational group clinics. It will stress that its state-of-the art cushioned court is exceptionally physically friendly, to draw in the older and challenged player who might hesitate to participate otherwise.
The Centre will stress public instruction, at both an hourly and clinic level. At the hourly level, CCITC trained local staff will provide tennis advice, knowledge, practical tips, and even racquets upon the asking, at no additional charge.
In addition, the Centre will target the younger public, through assorted winter and summer group clinics. It will maximize the number of operating hours to what is practical. In particular, the Centre will concentrate on winter school, winter after school, and winter junior development programmes based on Tennis Canada training, instructional, and skills upgrading criteria. Winter coaching clinics would be another priority, as would other community group initiatives, such as wheelchair and mixed senior (plus 55) play.
Our Charity Goals
The following organizations have provided particular support:
(1) Two supporting motions of the Cromarty Tennis Club (A separate organization from the CCITC, founded in 1902), May 16, 2006 - Summary attached (Cromarty Tennis Club, PO Box 746, Sydney, NS B1P 6H7. Contact: Pat Johnston, President, patj@eastlink.ca)
Clearly the executive of this fair-weather outdoor membership-based facility were enthralled with the possibility of an all-weather indoor public facility completely separate in finance and organization from itself, yet of great benefit to them in particular and, like themselves, to the community at large.
(2) Motion of the Board of the Sydney Airport Authority, Board of Directors, December 15, 2008 - The legal authority at the Sydney Airport Authority is presently preparing the necessary documents (Sydney Airport Authority, P.O. Box 670, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, B1P 6H7. Contact: Lawrence MacPherson, CEO, larrymceo@sydneyairport.ca
In its own words when describing another onsite initiative, “This partnership fulfills the Sydney Airport Authority’s commitment to make the airport a community resource that provides economic development opportunities for all concerned.”
(3) Endorsement of support from the Public Services Committee, January 4, 2009 - Copy of notice attached (Cape Breton Regional Municipality, 320 Esplanade, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1P 7B9), Contact Fred Brooks, ftbrooks@cbrm.ns.ca . The CBRM letter of support is forthcoming.
No doubt the CBRM sees our project as a complementary development that will much enhance their own recreation & community mandate as well one that would be eligible for support of “not-for-profit community organizations within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) to develop, construct, renovate, conserve and maintain community facilities for public recreation.”
C. NEEDS ASSESSMENT
As Cape Breton’s first indoor facility designed only for tennis, the CCITC will increase the physical activity and overall well-being and health of an island population within an unique setting hitherto only available on the mainland and elsewhere in Canada. Thus, while inclusive of all, yet focusing on the young, the old, and the challenged, the facility will also emphasize, in its design and programming, an enhanced accessibility (including wheelchair access).
The CCITC will stress physical activity amongst a client base clearly in need of public direction, will mobilize a community looking desperately for increased infrastructure capacity, provide a safe environment in an ever dangerous world, increase public awareness of the need for physical activity, and provide proof that its programming has beneficial personal and community outcomes.
The possibility is real that a popular CCITC (one court), given its relatively inexpensive capital outlay, would spawn satellite facilities (one court) in other local communities within the CBRM. The distance required to travel to the first CCITC might raise this demand. Clearly, the executive of the CCITC would encourage such an outcome.
In the past, arrangements for winter tennis - be it by the Cromarty Tennis Club, or private members initiative - whether in warehouses in Sydport or on the North Side, or at CBU, drew substantive numbers of players of all ages. Willing as they were to play in makeshift surroundings, these locations represented a clear need and crying out for a proper facility. In particular, they speak to an aging Cape Breton population seeking physical experience as a significant life choice on an island where such choices are limited, relative to other Canadian places.
D. PROJECT PLANNING
Community involvement/advice/support in the planning process has included the following:
(1) Malcolm Gillis, CBRM - Advice/support(2) Jamie F. Gillis, CBRM - Advice/support(3) Fred Brooks, CBRM - Advice/support(4) Frank Bruleigh, CBRM - Advice/support(5) Wayne Lattimer, Contractor - Advice(6) Larry MacPherson, Sydney Airport Authority - Advice/support(7) Aubrey Farrow, Grand Lake Road Vol. Fire Dept. - Advice(8) John Astephen, Cape-Breton-Victoria Regional School Board - Advice/support(9) Hayes MacNeil, Board of Governors, Cape Breton University - Advice/support(10) Bill Buckland, National Senior Representative for Nova Scotia, Tennis Canada - Advice/support(11) Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions - Involvement/support(12) Tom Wilson, Councilor - Advice/support
A number of reports/permits are available in the area of public health and safety:
(1) Fire Marshall (Pending 2209 - Not applicable until the building construction process begins - The construction tender(s) will require the adherence to all applicable codes)
(2) Building Inspector (Pending 2009 - Not applicable until the building construction process begins - The construction tender(s) will require the adherence to all applicable codes)
(3) Copy of the design of the facility - Signed by an Architect - (Pending 2009 - Not applicable until the building construction process begins - The construction tender(s) will require the provision of signed drawings)
(4) A building permit will be acquired at the Sydney Airport Authority prior to the tendering process (Note: Our building site is within a developed area with nearby water and sewer)
The construction schedule and the project management are as follows:
(1) Six to eight weeks “shovel ready” following our meeting of funding requirements. Project management is pending a 2009 successful tender
(2) The following companies (another number of local companies have been contacted and we are presently awaiting their estimates) have provided ball-park Class C estimates of cost and expected construction schedules:
(i) Wayne Lattimer, Sydney - Slab work and building assembly(ii) Richard Chapman, Eascan Building Systems (Eastern Canadian Structures Ltd) - Building and insulation package(iii) Jack Evans, Olympia Steel Buildings - Building and insulation package(iv) Matt Auffrey, Playteck, NB (Cushion tennis court construction)(v) Kevin Cornish, Maine Tennis and Track (Cushion tennis court construction)
Funding in place is as follows:
CCITC Contribution
(1) Fundraising (Pending 2009)- A CCITC Bank account has been established
(2) Cash on Hand (Pending 2009)- A CCITC Bank account has been established
(3) Bank Loans (Pending 2009) - A CCITC Bank account has been established
(4) Donated Materials - current actual value invoices (Pending 2009)
(5) Donated Volunteer Labour (in-kind ) - both skilled (going hourly CB rate) and unskilled (Minimum NS hourly rate) - Pending 2009
(6) Donated Equipment - current actual value invoices (Pending 2009)
Other Funding
(1) Charitable Donations (Our major drive is presently underway through the CanadaHelps.org at http://www.canadahelps.org/ - Enter Cromarty Community Indoor Tennis Centre
(2) Charitable Sponsorship Donations (Pending 2009 - One major sponsoring contact is already proving promising)
(3) Provincial Funding (Pending 2009)
(4) Federal Funding (Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Pending 2009 - Awaiting the application date which should be announced shortly - Maximum possible being 1/2 of total project cost and we have contacted ECBC which will administer the programme)
(5) Municipal Funding (Pending 2009 - We have contacted the CBRM Recreation Department - $20,000 maximum)
Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection Department
(1) Requested Funding (Maximum being 1/3rd of total project cost)
E. LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY
Although the CCITC has existed since only 2006, the Cromarty Tennis Club (CTC), whose members the CCITC will draw upon for their experience, proven volunteerism and participation, has been an uninterrupted success in Sydney since 1902. Their list of accomplishments, which are legendary, has included a strong, sustainable annual, summer outdoor after-school and junior programme. They also support a growing retiree and friends programme that encourages outdoor tennis play throughout the year (including the winter months when possible) for the older player. Clearly the Cromarty Community Tennis Centre will be a valuable asset to which the membership of CTC and other CBRM tennis clubs will turn, particularly during the winter and inclement days.
The Cape-Breton-Victoria Regional School Board has developed a very successful healthy life styles programme with Ski Ben Eoin that is linked to its physical education curriculum, in which they stress it important that children participate. We have been advised that our facility could receive the same treatment once our structured programme is in place. This is because it will stress the same goals and even more, and also is inclusive of physically challenged children. As at Ben Eoin, there would be a cost recovery charge-back to the participant.
Since the design of the facility meets Tennis Canada standards, and as well has room for perimeter seating, it will encourage exhibition matches involving professionals in support of our charity programmes. For example, the "Raising a Racquet for Kids" is an annual fundraiser where for example current world doubles #1 player, Daniel Nestor & rising Canadian star, 20 year old Peter Polansky have appeared.
Another example is where Tennis Canada is mandated “to lead the growth, promotion and showcasing of the sport of wheelchair tennis in Canada, build a system that helps produce world class players, and foster the pursuit of excellence for all. “ As a consequence, Tennis Canada recognizes the impact a tennis chair has on the enjoyment of challenged players and on the general progression in the sport, and thus has a lending programme to provide quality used tennis chairs to programs such as ours.
Our facility also includes an interior walking track which will attract another type client during the winter months.
This facility is also new, and comes with a number of long-term warranties. For example, the structure itself comes with 25 and 50-year warranties.
Revenues will certainly support at least one full time manager, and one part-time assistant, with an array of volunteers available to lessen the load and provide expertise training.
List of Some Community Organizations That Will Use The Facility:
(1) Cromarty Tennis Club(2) Sydney River Tennis Club(3) Glace Bay Tennis Club(4) New Waterford Tennis Club(5) North Sydney Tennis Club(6) Cape-Breton-Victoria Regional School Board(7) Cape Breton Island Hoppers Volksmarch Club
In other words, long term sustainability will not be a problem.
F. RESOURCEFULNESS
The list of public, not-for-profit, and private partners that in particular support the CCITC project are as follows. Included below are their contributions and the nature of the agreement between each of them and the CCITC:
(1) Sydney Airport Authority: 25-year, renewal lease on favourable terms
(2) Cromarty Tennis Club: Volunteers for CCITC programmes
(3) Krause House Info-Research Solutions: Volunteer for current building construction research, report production, and maintenance of the present Web Site (http://www.cromartytennis.ca/ccitc/)
(4) We also expect a considerable contribution for the naming rights to the facility.
G. COMMITMENT BY APPLICANT
The internal commitment of the CCITC will certainly be strong. Listed below is the amount of its financial and "in-kind" contributions:
(1) Pending upon the approval of the construction of the building - Up to one-third of the total project cost would be a reasonable goal.
(2) Pending upon the approval of the construction of the building - We expect a considerable amount of “in-kind” labour and materials from some of the long-term members of the Cromarty Tennis Club who are also successful business owners.
