White Rock to study Kent Street Activity Centre expansion

White Rock council voted Monday, June 8 to move forward with a feasibility study for expanding and renovating the Kent Street Activity Centre after passionate testimony from seniors who depend on the facility.

The centre, built in 1973, serves over 800 seniors from White Rock and South Surrey with 17 activity groups. Residents spoke to council about snooker, table tennis, carpet bowling, computer club, a choral group, theatre group, card games, weekly dances, and a coffee shop offering reasonably priced meals and take-home options.

One resident told council: "The Kent Street Activity Centre has become an important part of my life. I've made many friendships there and enjoyed meeting people often for lunch in that lovely little café… it's a warm and welcoming place with wonderful staff."

Clive Griffiths, chair of the centre's expansion committee and a member since 1998, emphasized the impact. In the past 15 weeks alone, the centre recorded 11,000 individual visits. "Seniors' recreation isn't just nice to have, it is essential — it keeps people healthy, active and independent. It reduces isolation and loneliness, it helps avoid higher costs in health care and social services and, as White Rock's population grows and ages, the need will only increase."

Griffiths and the expansion committee are advocating to improve and expand the current facility rather than relocate it. A key need is more parking, as demand for seniors programs and services has grown significantly since the building opened 51 years ago.

White Rock director of recreation John Woolgar confirmed the city will proceed with exploring the costs and possibility of improving and expanding the current facility.