The East Side Community Association has shut down due to a lack of volunteers and because the responsibility for recreational programming has shifted to the municipality.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to do it,” said Jenny Gadd, chairwoman of the association.
She explained that, during the last couple of years, she attempted to find someone else to take her position as chairperson. She was unable to do so, and since no one stepped forward to volunteer, she and the association became concerned about their future.
“We’ve been bare bones for a long time (with volunteers),” said Gadd. “And with no one willing to replace (her), it was time to make a bold decision. We were at the point where we had to make a move.”
Gadd had volunteered with the association for 20 years. Her father joined the association in the 1980s, while there were also other long-serving members. Recently, the goal had been to recruit new volunteers to provide fresh ideas and bring new leadership.
The other issues association struggled with focused on its role in the city and whether it was still responsible for programming. Gadd pointed out that during the 1980s, community associations looked after booking gyms, organizing classes, running registrations, and collecting fees.
That responsibility shifted back to the City of Moose Jaw in 2007, which means there is less of a role community associations can play in programming.
“It’s always disappointing when a community group does not exist anymore … ,” said Scott Osmachenko, recreation services manager. “It is unfortunate to have a really invested group of volunteers no longer engaged, but we still want to work with the east side area.”
City hall appreciates the community association’s efforts to build the spray pad and erect a new sign at the park, remarked Osmachenko. While the role of such groups has changed, city hall wants to continue to work with them and to continue to look for volunteers from the east side.
If anyone wants to revive the East Side Community Association or volunteer, they should call the parks and recreation department at 306-694-4447.
Whenever the East Side Community Association was in the news, Gadd’s main message centred on encouraging people to volunteer since it can be satisfying.
“I get that people are busy and people’s interests have changed from that community involvement,” she said. “Volunteering isn’t that hot ticket it used to be … It’s lost some of that lure for people.”
Although the municipality now looks after community programming, the association — a registered non-profit — was still able to acquire grant funding for projects. It used the money to improve green spaces, install a basketball court at Bell Park, support outdoor classrooms at schools, sponsor the fall pumpkin festival, and cover Grade 8 graduation windups.
One of the biggest projects the association handled was installing a $120,000 spray pad last year in the East End Park.
Just recently, the association used some of its remaining funds to install a new yellow sign there for $3,000.
Any money left — which is not much, said Gadd — will be used to sponsor the pumpkin festival, the Grade 8 windups, and to spruce up other green spaces.
“Volunteering does not have to take a lot of time,” she added. “Many hands make light work. Anything you can do to make your community better is something to be proud of.”
