Nipawin Revolution Gymnastics club has around 200 members. (Facebook/Nipawin Revolution Gymnastics)

By Doug Lett

Centre for Gymnastics still looking at options after town says no to financial help

Apr 17, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Editor’s note: This story has been re-written to better reflect the distinction between the Nipawin Centre for Gymnastics and Athletic Development Ltd. and the Nipawin Revolution Gymnastics Club.

The Nipawin Centre for Gymnastics and Athletic Development (NCGAD) is looking at its options after a request for financial help from the town of Nipawin was turned down.

Doug Gudnason created the NCGAD as a philanthropic project to help the Nipawin Revolution Gymnastics Club – which is a not-for-profit organization run by a volunteer board. Previously the club had to set up and take down their equipment twice a week. Since the club didn’t have the purchasing power to get their own building, Gudnason, who is also a coach with the club, helped open the NCGAD. The centre, a separate entity from the gymnastics club, gave the sport room to grow in the community.

Unfortunately, COVID restrictions during the pandemic affected the club; membership dropped, while expenses did not.

“COVID caused an impact on the membership of the club. Our membership was down, and then we had just opened the new building when the pandemic started,” explained Gudnason.

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He started paying for the building’s utility bills out of his own pocket.

“I’ve literally had to carry it. I pay the electric, gas, phone and internet and the water; the club can’t afford to cover all that,” he said.

Since the pandemic ended and memberships started to return, the club has been paying more whenever they can.

“The club’s doing their part and doing fundraising and things like that, but I need other financial sources. I don’t really want to raise the rent to the point where the club shuts down.”

Gudnason said he can’t afford to cover utilities indefinitely, so he approached the town of Nipawin to see if it would be willing to buy the building outright for about $500,000, or else give the NCGAD a loan of $150,000, with a grace period of six years.

However, at its April 11 meeting, council turned down the request. A report prepared for the meeting said, “…Administration is recommending council not enter into this type of activity as it will create more requests for assistance.”

“The proposal of $150,000 for six years at no repayments and a monthly repayment of $1,000 thereafter poses significant risk as the payback period is +18 years to recoup the requested $150,000,” the report added.

Gudnason said the decision is a disappointment.

“I’ll have to look for investors and possibly create a cooperative or something like that.”

He said the gymnastics club continues to grow, and currently has around 200 students, with male and female athletes starting as early as pre-school.

He also said they’ve done quite well in competitions.

“For a town our size, we have a large and very competent, competitive team that’s actually beating larger clubs,” he said.

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doug.lett@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @DougLettSK