Winter Highlights

Culinary Confidence

This four-session program was offered in both early and late spring at the Meadowood Community Centre. Facilitator Kristine Stephenson did a fantastic job supporting students in gaining confidence and skills to prepare affordable nutritious meals at home. ACRA received a Decoda Literacy Solutions grant to offer this food literacy program. A portion of the funds were spent on basic kitchen materials (pots, pans, dishes, utensils, etc.). These materials are being kept at Meadowood Community Centre (as a new building it was not yet stocked). These supplies are open for use by other community groups that access the facility.

The early spring session filled to capacity with five participants. Late Spring was quiet in Meadowood, and the second spring session had three participants.

Joy in Motion

This was a new, by donation, program offered by ACRA and facilitated by Sandra Poelzer. Designed with older adults and those with physical limitations in mind, the program encouraged the use of mobility aids such as canes and walkers and included seated exercise options to ensure accessibility for all participants.

The focus was on celebrating the joy of movement, incorporating fun and engaging elements like dance ribbons, balls, and upbeat music in a safe, social environment. While attendance for this inaugural four-week session was lower than anticipated, participants who joined reported a very positive experience. They expressed feeling stronger by the end of the program, and appreciated the supportive, inclusive atmosphere.

Floor Hockey

ACRA is fortunate to have two instructors, Erin Adams and Jonas Menge, for Floor Hockey offered Sunday nights at the Coombs Fairgrounds Gymnasium. This program continued to build momentum, with ninety instances of attendance over the seven spring sessions. Facilitators do a great job of creating a welcoming atmosphere and ensuring an evenly matched game is enjoyed by all. Participants do an excellent job of demonstrating fair play, reffing themselves and taking turns playing goalie. This program attracts a particularly wide age range, with sixteen-year-olds playing with people in their sixties.

Pete the Cat: First steps to school Fair

Community organizations collaborate to provide this free event for preschool children and their adults. This fair is an opportunity for parents to learn all about the community resources available to children in the community and for local organizations to share programming. Pete the Cat (a fictional character from popular children’s books) attends this event to help create a supportive environment for these future students. This fair occurred on April 17that the Qualicum Commons and continues to be well-attended with 223 attendees. This fair allows future kindergarten students to meet some of the teachers and become familiar with what is coming in their next big step, starting school.

BodyWeight Strength and Balance

Facilitator Sandra Poelzer has started to develop a following for her bodyweight fitness class. Her spring offering had both pre-registered and drop-in participants, and her classes were well attended each week. Sandra does a wonderful job of making these classes accessible to all-levels by offering modifications and options for various exercises. Participants arrive in running shoes, with a yoga mat and enjoy a full-body workout with no additional equipment needed. Sandra leads participants through variations of squats, lunges and planks as well as core work and stretching.

Moms Spring Clean out

May 4th marked the first ever “Mom’s Spring Clean Out” at the Coombs Fairgrounds. The event, offered in partnership with the Arrowsmith Agricultural Association, was similar to a community garage sale. Indoor or outdoor booths could be purchased, and then vendors could sell used items. It was impressive to see the range of items on display including kids’ shoes, board games, bicycles, guitars, toys, baby and children’s clothes, and much more. ACRA’s served popcorn and sold items by donation. This event’s fundraising efforts supported the 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament.

Coombs Fair Kids program

Offered on non-instructional days throughout the school year, this program has been immensely popular and has been full with waitlists for most of the school year. Three workshops were offered this spring.

At the gardening workshop on April 28th, Janet Thony from Coombs Farmers Institute came to speak.

At the woodworking workshop on May 16th, Recreation Coordinator Kristine Stephenson taught the group how to make birdhouses. They left excited to hang them up in their yards where they could be enjoyed by the wildlife.

The fine arts workshop was the last in the series and was offered on June 27th. Local artist Donna-Marie Lamb visited to show the children how to make multi-media sculptures. They made charming mushroom sculptures.

3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament

Arrowsmith Hall was buzzing with excitement as cheers from players, families, and volunteers filled the air during this year's 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament. Eight teams took to the court, with players travelling from across Area F and Oceanside. One team even made the journey from Lasqueti Island!

The tournament was a true community event. Siblings, parents, and grandparents gathered to support their favorite players and celebrate the fun, fast-paced games. ACRA kept spirits high by offering popcorn, candy, and water by donation for spectators.

Older youth from ACRA’s 16+ Thursday night basketball program stepped up as referees and scorekeepers, with support from their facilitator, Michael Briones, who also organized the tournament schedule. Their leadership and involvement were inspiring examples of youth giving back to their basketball community.

After the games, all participants and volunteers enjoyed pizza and cookies as a well-earned treat. Winning teams received prizes generously donated by local businesses, including mini-golf passes, basketballs, frisbees, and recreation passes.

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and cheered. It was a slam dunk of a day for community spirit and youth sports!

Meadowood Gather and Griddle

This new event allowed the ACRA team to meet more of the Meadowood community and establish connections with a strong community donor, the Meadowood Store. The pancake breakfast was offered by-donation at the Meadowood Community Centre on May 24th. This first Gather & Griddle included a story walk, children’s activities and an incredible youth volunteer supporting the work in the kitchen. As this was the first community pancake breakfast, ACRA was unsure what attendance would be; however, nearly forty people attended, which was a strong start. Based on the feedback received, a wonderful time was had by all who came, and they are keen to return. It was a great opportunity for the recreation team to build more connections with Meadowood families. ACRA hopes to expand the activities, making it an annual tradition.

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (extended)

The Thursday-evening basketball session for players ages 16+, led by Michael Briones, has assembled a committed group of regular attendees. It’s not uncommon to see thirty eager players come out to play ball. This year, the program was so popular that participants pressed to have an additional six sessions added to the end of the winter/spring session, continuing the program right into June! Due to the high attendance, and higher than usual player donations (there is a donation box at each session), ACRA was able to support the extra sessions.

Intermediate Marimba

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Coombs Community Picnic

The four women who comprise the Intermediate Marimba class have really settled into their new home at the Coombs Fairgrounds. They’re pleased with the space and their bi-weekly rehearsals are going so well that they were invited to play at the Coombs Fair. They are looking forward to sharing their music with others and are excited to be a part of this popular community event.

Coombs Community Picnic

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Coombs Community Picnic

After years of unpredictable weather, and even a monsoon, this year’s picnic was blessed with incredible weather. Approximately 275 people attended this year’s picnic. ACRA saw many families setting up blankets for a picnic on the field, with live music, children’s activities and a free concession, this was another successfully “unplugged” family event. Sterling, who offers group guitar lessons through ACRA, provided the live music performance. ACRA was pleased to honour the Coombs-Hilliers Volunteer Fire Department at this event and celebrated their 60th anniversary in the community. A grant from Coastal Community Credit Union, donations from Old Country Market, Creekmore’s, and Candice DeWolf (who provided the celebration cake), and ACRA’s very incredible volunteers made this year’s picnic another noteworthy event.

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Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

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ParticipAction: Free Outdoor Fitness

ACRA was successful in securing a grant through ParticipACTION to offer free outdoor fitness in June. This funding is part of the Community Challenge, a national physical activity and sport plan that supports communities to get active in June.

This grant allowed community members to attend some of ACRA’s regular paid programs, for free, outdoors through the month of June. The aim was to encourage participants to try something new and if they enjoyed the program, they could continue in the fall with regular programming.

Bodyweight Strength + Balance was offered on Wednesday mornings at the Coombs Fairgrounds. Morning Yoga Flow was offered Friday mornings at Meadowood Park. Lastly, one of ACRA’s most popular programs, ESSENTRICS® Stretch & Tone, which often results in a waitlist, was offered without a participant maximum at Errington Community Park.

Sole Sisters Walking Group

Sole Sisters Walking Group

Spring marked the final portion and wrap up of the Sole Sisters season before breaking for the summer. The volunteer leaders continued to show flexibility and dedication during this final stretch to ensure quality walks each week. ACRA is grateful to have maintained a solid group of eight volunteer walk leaders throughout this season who all plan to return in the fall. The group ended the season at Englishman River Provincial Park, concluding with a gathering to thank the wonderful volunteers.

Cancelled Spring Programs

ACRA’s Bodyweight Strength + Balance and Morning Yoga Flow were cancelled in Meadowood this spring due to low registration. Recreation coordinators are collecting information to become more familiar with this neighbourhood, and so far, spring appears to be a time when interest in indoor programming begins to decline.

ACRA was excited to offer a Mid-Island Programming Club at BoMe Cheese this spring; however, it was cancelled due to low enrollment. The aim was to create a community-driven initiative dedicated to making computer programming accessible and engaging for all skill levels. Combining two experienced facilitators, Matt, a professional software engineer with fifteen years of experience in the industry, working at Microsoft as well as at various start-up companies, and Jonas, who studied Mechatronics and Robotics and works at Canadian Electric Vehicles this program has the potential to offer a unique opportunity to the central island area. ACRA is optimistic in offering this program again in the fall.

Ongoing

Community Meetings

The recreation coordinators attended many community meetings including:

· ACRA Team Meetings

· Facilitator Meetings

· Interviews with Potential Facilitators

· Building Learning Together Coalition Meetings

· YouthLINK Meetings

· Decoda Literacy Meetings

On February 27th, the ACRA and RDN recreation teams set out to see Gabriola Recreation Society’s space and tour Huxley Park. The recreation groups have been gathering on a quarterly basis to share knowledge. It was very interesting to see how GRS runs programs from the school. The group shared good conversation on feedback surveys, park usage, summer hiring, and registration.

Recreation Coordinator Kristine Stephenson attended the Seniors Round Table meeting on May 13th at the Oceanside Place Arena. It focused on early planning for Active Aging Week in October. ACRA is looking forward to introducing some new offerings this year.

Promotion and Registration

The recreation coordinators are responsible for maintaining for maintaining the ACRA website and events calendar, Facebook page, and Instagram account as well as promotion for programs. The recreation coordinators receive and reply to phone calls and emails regularly and manage all of the registration for programs independently.

Recreation coordinator Kristine Stephenson was approached by Neighbours of Qualicum Beach to write a piece for the July issue. Kristine wrote an article about August events in Arrowsmith.

In mid-June the fifth issue of ACRA’s quarterly newsletter was released. It focused on upcoming summer events and included an interview with the Oceanside Idlers, who coordinate a car show in Coombs every summer. The car show is a fundraiser for local charities.

Community Cupboard

ACRA manages a community lending cupboard where other non-profit organizations and hobbyist groups can borrow equipment on a by-donation basis.

The Coombs Farmers Institute borrowed traffic directing equipment and tents for their annual Spring Auction on April 12th.

Errington Hall’s grandparents and child marimba program has been very successful. On a mission to improve their skills, many of the grandparents have rented marimbas from ACRA to use over the summer. These instruments have not been used in quite some time, so it is gratifying to see them bring so much delight these budding new musicians.

Grants

On April 4th ACRA submitted an application for a RDN Recreation grant to support the Coombs Candy Walk. A priority for this year’s event is making better use of the loft storage area and implementing a new organization system. The event is over fifty years old, and it has amassed a large volume of materials. The team started with a loft clean out of May 2nd and many old and damaged items were retired.

In partnership with the Arrowsmith Agricultural Association, ACRA applied for a Community Foundation Grant through Parksville Qualicum Foundation to support the Fall 2025/Winter 2026 basketball season. Traditionally, the program has run ten weeks in the fall and ten weeks in the winter. However, the demand for basketball has been so tremendous that the decision was made to extend the Winter season by four extra dates. Altogether this grant will fund forty-eight basketball sessions. ACRA’s basketball crew was delighted to find out that the grant was approved this spring.

Spring Highlights: April - June, 2025

African Hand Drumming

Culinary Confidence

Essentrics

Chair Yoga

Begiiner & Beyond Beginner Guitar

Joy in Motion

Floor Hockey

Pete the Cat: First steps to school Fair

BodyWeight Strength and Balance

Moms Spring Clean out

Coombs Fair Kids program

Picnic and Play

3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament

Meadowood Gather and Griddle

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (extended)

Intermediate Marimba

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Coombs Community Picnic

Coombs Community Picnic

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Coombs Community Picnic

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

Youth Basketball: Age 16+ (Extended)

ParticipAction: Free Outdoor Fitness

Sole Sisters Walking Group

Cancelled Spring Programs

Ongoing

Community Meetings

Promotion and Registration

Community Cupboard

Grants