Privately-run rec centre hikes user fees

The private managers of a publicly owned and funded recreation centre are charging exorbitant user fees.

The Surrey BC sports complex opened its doors in September 1999. The state of the art facility, which includes two rinks and two pools, was completed with public funds after the private developer went bankrupt. The city, which owns the facility, then contracted out facility management and pool operations.

Membership fees are far higher than those at Surrey’s other public recreation facilities. A one-year family membership costs $950, compared to $535. A single membership is $655, compared to $366.

"It’s a public facility that’s charging astronomical rates to the taxpayers that paid to have it built in the first place," says Ray Kerr, a city worker and first vice-president of CUPE 402, the union that represents the recreation workers. He says the new fees have sparked an uproar in the community.

The new facility is also cutting corners on staff. While public sector employees still work on the two rinks, the pool staffs are contracted out.

"The private company, Leisure Aquatics, pays minimum wage and has lower qualification requirements for lifeguards than the city. They thought it’d be easy to get rid of our lifeguards because a lot of them are students."

Kerr says the Surrey complex is another example of a private company taking advantage of user fees to boost profits.

"The private contractor is in business to make money, and is going to charge whatever they want to charge."