Current Projects
Onaping Community Centre
This year, 2024, an Aquatic Service and Facility Review was completed and presented to City Council on October 8th, 2024. This Review recommended the closure of the Onaping Pool after it has reached its "functional life" with no major repairs or upgrades done.
We are in the process of bringing the Onaping Community Centre to the attention of our City Council to see that the repairs and upgrades needed for the facility to be in "good" condition are met before it is too late to salvage the structure of the building.
We put a motion to City Council through our Ward 3 Councilor, Gerry Montpellier, to have a Business Case done for the 2023 Greater Sudbury Budget to make necessary repairs and upgrades to the Onaping Community Centre. This includes the windows, roof, washrooms and other maintenance.
The Business Case was denied for the 2023 Capital Budget and it was not deferred for future years either.
In July 2021, we applied for the Enabling Accessibility Fund from Employment and Social Development Canada to retrofit the Onaping Community Centre with accessible washrooms, revamp the entrance to the gym and create a safe environment by addressing other maintenance and structural issues. Our application was not approved.
Levack & Dowling Playground Upgrade
In 2017, the City of Greater Sudbury's Playground Revitalization was presented to City Council. The OFRC has been advocating for the upgrades of our playgrounds in Levack & Dowling due to the Playground Revitalization report only having playgrounds in Onaping listed for upgrades.
We also tried applying to the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative in March 2021 to upgrade the Levack Larch Street Tot Lot and build a new playground in Dowling. Unfortunately, the City did not provide the required information and approvals for the first application deadline on March 9, 2021.
We continued to push the City to make sure we had all of the required documentation and approvals for the second round of applications. Deadline was June 25, 2021. Our application was not approved for the $ 250,000 in funding we applied for.
In April 2022, we tried to apply for the Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation Corporation (NOHFC)'s Rural Enhancement Funding Stream for the Levack Larch Street Tot Lot. The Rural Enhancement Stream would provide 90% of the funding for communities under 1,500 population. But our application was rejected as we are considered to be a part of the City of Greater Sudbury.
We tried to apply for the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Community Investments Capital Grant by August 3rd, 2022 for the Levack Larch Street Tot Lot Playground Upgrade but were denied.
We are continuing to search for grant/funding opportunities.
Projects
Benches at Levack Ballfield
Russell Beaudry Outdoor Rink
Benches at Levack Ballfield
In 2024, in partnership with KGHM, we were able to install four park benches at the Levack Ballfield for our seniors and disabled residents, to use to watch ball games at the field. Access from Second Avenue to the Ballfield, where most of the street parking is available, is not feasible for residents de to the steep hill they have to negotiate. These benches give residents the option to view the ball games
Onaping Community Garden
Russell Beaudry Outdoor Rink
Benches at Levack Ballfield
In 2021, partnership with the Onaping Falls CAN, we applied for and received funding through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund from the Government of Canada to install a Community Garden beside the Onaping Splash Pad and Pavilion. There are 10 garden beds for residents to reserve for the growing season.
Russell Beaudry Outdoor Rink
Russell Beaudry Outdoor Rink
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
In 2021, we applied for an HCI Capital Grant to upgrade and add new fencing at the Outdoor Rink. The fencing helps to keep the pucks in the rink.
The fencing additions were completed in 2022.
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
We applied for and received funding through the New Horizon for Seniors grant to upgrade the entrance of the Onaping Community Centre in 2021. The upgrade included a new accessible front walkway ramp to the main doors and an AODA automatic door.
Celebrating Dave Taylor
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
Onaping Splash Pad Pavilion
In 2019, the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup. Our very own Dave Taylor, originally from Levack and played on the Huskies, was the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues, since 2012.
Dave brought the Cup home to the I.J. Coady Memorial Arena in Levack on July 11th, 2019. Residents young and old were in awe of seeing the Stanley Cup in person and to chat with the NHL star.
To thank and celebrate Dave, the OFRC created and installed a commemorative sign at the I.J. Coady Memorial Arena.
Onaping Splash Pad Pavilion
Onaping Community Centre Entrance Upgrade
Onaping Splash Pad Pavilion
In 2019, we applied for and received an HCI Capital Grant for Ward 3 to construct a pavilion beside the Onaping Splash Pad.
Memorial benches and picnic tables
Memorial benches and picnic tables
Memorial benches and picnic tables
In July 2018, we were able to install park benches and picnic tables in memory of local residents. Day Group provided in-kind donations for the construction of the cement pads and the OFRC purchased the benches and tables with the proceeds from the RCMP Musical Ride and Family Festival that was held in June 2018.
Onaping Splash Pad
Memorial benches and picnic tables
Memorial benches and picnic tables
The Onaping Splash Pad was completed in late June 2018. It took four years, a lot of fundraising and grant writing but we did it!!