More space for fun and fitness

Key City Gymnastics has moved to its new home in the Mosaic Centre on Industrial Road A in Cranbrook, B.C.

by Marie Milner — February 15, 2013

Group of girls performing gymnastics with coach

1 of 3An after-school class enjoys Key City Gymnastics' new home in the Mosaic Centre at 415 Industrial Road A in Cranbrook. — Marie Milner photo

Group of girls doing running exercises in a gymnastics facility

2 of 3An after-school class enjoys Key City Gymnastics' new home in the Mosaic Centre at 415 Industrial Road A in Cranbrook. — Marie Milner photo

Sun shines down on a new-appearing long, low building

3 of 3The Mosaic Centre, new home of Key City Gymnastics, is located in the industrial park in Cranbrook, B.C. — Marie Milner photo

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The volunteer board of Key City Gymnastics (KCG) has successfully accomplished the tough task of finding an affordable new facility to house the non-profit society. Garry Ricks, head coach at KCG, participated in that process.

“Jay Savage and I looked all over town for a place for the gym,” Ricks said, “and we’d had some disappointments and discouragement.”

Hand fits glove

Enter Dennis Hockley and his group of companies: Aldies Land Company Ltd., Living Stones Developments Ltd. and Bravo Restoration Services. Hockley’s group had been occupying rented offices for some time, and he wanted to build his own premises and also offer rental space. KCG seemed to be a good candidate for tenancy.

“We have had an awesome relationship with Dennis right from the beginning,” said Ricks. “He has just been so good. We got to work with the building staff and the subtrades during the construction, and if we had a concern it was addressed right away—it’s been a perfect fit and it was worth waiting for.”

KCG occupies more than 8,500 square feet of space on the lower level of the attractive new Mosaic Centre at 415 Industrial Road A in Cranbrook—about half again what they had at their former location. The board and the staff are eager to maximize use of the space, and have ideas for new and expanded programs to include people of all ages.

Inclusive new programs

Ricks talked with great enthusiasm about the possibilities, mentioning parkour (street gymnastics), cross-fit, gym-fit, junior gym, dance and even an after-school homework support program. He is clearly excited about making more options available to the current crop of gymnasts, and is hoping to welcome diverse other groups who don’t presently use the facility.

“We’d like to get youth and adults into activities that are not necessarily competitive,” Ricks said, “but are lots of fun and improve their fitness. There’s so much we can offer seniors—easy, basic stuff addressing stability and strength, that will increase their confidence and make them safer when they’re out and about, and even at home. There’s a lot we can do even with people who are wheelchair-bound.

“We start kids off learning gross motor skills, and even if they don’t do any more than that, it gives them a good solid base in fitness and movement. We can only hope that they continue being active as they grow up. Lots of our health problems now are lifestyle-related, so it’s in our power to do something about that.”

KCG has activities going on daily from around 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. already, but the new space will allow more than one program to run at the same time.

“We’ve got lots of ideas about what more we can offer the community,” said Ricks, “and we’re really excited about that. This year is going to be full of changes and growth.”