The proposed 10,000-square-foot facility to be built on Hovey Road as part of Central Saanich’s municipal facilities requires consent from Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney to approve a loan.
A new recreation centre could be coming to Central Saanich if all three peninsula municipalities approve borrowing to fund the facility.
The proposed 10,000-square-foot facility to be built at 1882 Hovey Road as part of Central Saanich’s municipal facilities requires consent from Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney to approve a loan of up to $14.2 million for Saanich Peninsula Recreation Services to build the facility.
In April, the Capital Regional District board approved first, second and third readings of a loan authorization bylaw and sent the question of borrowing to the three municipalities.
The average annual cost per household as a result of approving borrowing would be $61.66 in Central Saanich, $73.19 in North Saanich and $47.36 in Sidney, according to a report to the Peninsula Recreation Commission.
Central Saanich council will receive a CRD presentation on the proposal on May 11.
The CRD has already presented to Sidney and North Saanich councils, which are now seeking input from the community. Residents have until May 11 to provide their comments on the proposed borrowing by email, by letter or by speaking at a May 11 council meeting.
Both Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith and Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor have expressed support for the project.
McNeil-Smith said there is a strong case for the proposed recreation facility, which would relieve some of the pressure on highly used areas and programs at the main North Saanich Centre, benefiting Sidney residents who use that facility.
The CRD’s Panorama Recreation service operates the North Saanich centre and the 20,000-square-foot Greenglade Community Centre in Sidney. It is funded approximately 50 per cent by user fees and 50 per cent by Sidney, North Saanich and Central Saanich taxpayers.
During the first three months of 2026, the Greenglade centre had 11,452 drop-in visits and 1,531 registrations in multi-day programs, McNeil-Smith said.
Windsor said Central Saanich residents face barriers to accessing CRD recreation services that they already fund to a tune of $330 for the average home.
The proposal for a new recreation facility solves a long-standing problem with capacity and fairness in an affordable way, using land Central Saanich is contributing at no cost, he said.
Central Saanich taxpayers collectively contribute the most to peninsula recreation facilities, making up about 40 per cent of the funding, Windsor said. But the district is the only one of the three that does not have its own indoor, purpose-built recreation centre.
North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones did not respond to interview requests. During an April 8 CRD board vote to authorize a loan for the new facility, he said he was not in favour, but voted to move the proposal ahead to allow the issue to come before North Saanich council for consideration.
The proposed facility would feature a weight room, fitness/dance studio, pottery space and multipurpose rooms for general programming.
If approved, construction could begin in late 2026.