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Vecova will close the main building, including the warm swimming pool, in 2025

Posted on by darion

Vecova, a Calgary-based organization that advocates for people with disabilities, announced that its main facility at 33 Street NW will close next year.

In a press release Wednesday, Vecova said the closure comes after plans to build a new All Skills Center failed because the organization was unable to secure the government funding needed to make the project a reality.

“This is an exceptionally difficult day,” said Vecova CEO Kelly Holmes-Binns. “We have served as a community hub for 55 years, offering life-changing programs and services.”

Officials say the current facility, built in 1969, has been deemed “out of date” and about 30 percent of the building has already been closed due to its poor condition.

Vecova says the cost of renovating the current building will be 75 percent of the total cost of building a new building.

Vecova offers a wide range of programs including water sports, health and fitness, social enterprise ventures and employment services.

“We will continue to serve as leaders in the disability community,” Holmes-Binns said. “We will advocate for the availability and continuation of many services, including housing.”

Programs that will no longer be offered by Vecova after June 2025 include:

  • All pool related programs including swimming lessons, public swimming and water activities;

  • All fitness and recreation programs;

  • summer camps;

  • Adaptive recreation programs;

  • rental of facilities; AND

  • Bottle warehouse in autumn 2025

The organization is currently working with the City of Calgary to determine the future of the building.

“Vecova is more than just a building,” Holmes-Binns said. “We will deliver our cutting-edge programs wherever we can.”

Vecova serves over 350,000 people annually.

Holmes-Binns says it tries to move programs to alternative locations to minimize disruption to customers.

“Despite our best efforts, the facility is simply no longer sustainable,” Holmes-Binns said. “The building is safe, but its long-term operation has become unsustainable.”

He says Vecova will continue to provide housing, employment, mental health and other essential services.

More information can be found at Vecova.ca.