A significant increase in to Glacier Gymnastics’ rent won’t result in program cutting.
Nelson’s second-biggest sports organization revealed Tuesday at its annual general meeting that it is raising fees $1.50 per hour to account for a $23,000 annual increase in rent at its Civic Centre space.
The jump from $19,000 to $42,000 per year, which was first made public in June, is to account for rising utility costs. Those costs aren’t unique to Glacier and actually being applied, to varying degrees, to all city-owned buildings. But the bill was still steep for the club, which had been paying the same rent since 2004.
Glacier manager Steve Long said the slight raise to fees will help pay the new bill, increase its staff and keep its programming intact. The non-profit club posted a loss of just $449.71 for the financial year beginning September 2016 and ending in August.
“We’re really happy to be responsible in that building,” said Long. “I think that’s an important thing. It’s an old building and old buildings are expensive. It allows us to play a more responsible part in the upkeep of that.”
Related: Glacier Gymnastics facing $23K rent increase
Long said the city has also agreed on a case-by-case basis to give the club a maintenance fee credit for leasehold improvements.
“The club is in a place where it should take on that responsibility and I think in a positive way. We have a really good partnership and relationship with the city moving forward.”
Gymnastics remains one of Nelson’s most popular sports, second only to soccer in terms of participation.
The gym had 795 gymnasts registered for the 2016-2017 season, with 45 classes a week running at an average of 92 per cent capacity.
Competitively, Glacier also remains a fixture on podiums. The club had 14 athletes attend provincials in April, with eight top-three finishes at the B.C. championships.
tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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