A community hub for active living

Photo credit: Lindsay Construction

Funding provided through the Canada Community-Building Fund

The residents of St. John’s can now take advantage of the new H.G.R. Mews Community Centre, a state-of-the-art facility for recreation and wellness. Spanning 60,000 square feet, the new space offers a range of amenities built for active living, including a swimming pool, a walking track, a gymnasium, convertible courts, and multi-purpose spaces.

The new community centre invites swimmers of all ages to make a splash and enjoy the pool area that boasts multiple swimming lanes, a leisure pool, and steam room. A full-size gymnasium welcomes friendly and competitive games of basketball, pickleball, volleyball, soccer, and other sport pursuits. Residents can also bounce into action for a game of squash, handball, or racquetball on the two convertible courts.

Two multi-purpose rooms are equipped to host family reunions, birthdays, baby showers, and weddings which will allow the community to gather and create lasting memories. With support from the Canada Community-Building Fund, this new facility serves as a vibrant hub to promote recreation.

Stepping outside, there are even more opportunities to inspire community connection. The largest inclusive play space in St. John’s houses the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Playground, an outdoor space designed to support physical, cognitive, and sensory needs, inviting all children to join in on the fun.

An orchard with a spread of apple, cherry, plum, and pear trees have been planted. The orchard will provide fresh fruit for the community and promote local food security. In addition, a new accessible community garden with raised garden beds will soon be available to the public, further expanding opportunities for local food production.

Thoughtfully designed with accessibility features, the new H.G.R. Mews Community Centre offers accessible parking and loading areas, gender-neutral change spaces, and barrier-free washrooms and pool entry. This inclusive facility creates an accessible and welcoming space for the community to gather and connect.

For decades to come, the new modern and inclusive community hub will continue to bring together people of all ages and promote healthy living while inspiring friendship, celebration, and laughter.

Quick facts

• Across Canada, the federal government renewed the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) and is investing $26.7 billion over the next ten years (2024-2034) to support core infrastructure projects.
• The CCBF invests in 19 different project categories in over 3,700 communities across the country, such as public transit, water infrastructure, solid waste management, highways, roads, and bridges.

For more information

• City to Celebrate Grand Opening of H.G.R. Mews Community Centre
• Canada Community-Building Fund in Newfoundland and Labrador