T-CAP Centre seeks public help for fitness centre renovations

A Montague, P.E.I. fitness centre says it needs financial help, but the town turned down its request.

The T-CAP Centre keeps people in good shape with its pool and recreation facilities, but the building itself is rather sickly, users say.

The building is run as a co-operative and Atlantic Fitness East rents the space. David Lister, a board member on the co-op, says it barely has enough money to pay the bills.

"It would be a shame to not have it, so right now we're at the stage where we need to do a major renovation and update to keep the facility operating for another 20 years," he said.

For the past five years, the town has paid T-CAP $10,000 a year to use the driveway as an entrance to the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre.

The agreement ended this year. Lister asked the town for another $15,000 of public funds, but council turned him down.

Forgive municipal taxes

Lister suggested the town could forgive the municipal taxes the aging centre owes.

"Even if they gave us that much, which is $4,000, at least then the town can say, 'Well, we forgive taxes,' and it's somewhat support," he said.

Sheila Fitzpatrick, a Montague councillor, said the facility is an important part of the community.

"It's a large amount of money and we felt in the end that the Town of Montague just doesn't have the fiscal ability to put a Band-Aid fix on this," she said.

"It is something that requires more of a cast, a body cast."

Fitzpatrick described multiple problems in the building, including that it needs to be painted and the broken geothermal heating system that hasn't worked for years.

The town wants to see other communities and donors on board before it subsidizes the facility.

"If the town won't give us support, why would Cardigan or Brudenell or whatever even consider supporting us when they say, 'Well, how much is the Town of Montague doing for you?'" said Lister.

T-CAP says it will raise money privately and wants more donors and volunteers.