Port Coquitlam is asking for patience as it slowly welcomes back patrons and staff to its new $132-million community centre.
Although a grand opening for the new Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) was held on Oct. 2, not all staff are in place and the pool is open limited hours.
However, programs are ramping up and the city expects to offer more of them when it starts registration for winter programming for PoCo residents Nov. 16 and the general public on Nov. 19.
A new winter leisure guide for all city programs will be available online next Friday (Nov. 12).
"We appreciate the public’s patience as we continue to offer more and more programs/activities," said Glenn Mitzell, area recreation manager, in an email to the Tri-City News.
"All programs/activities are running and gradually increasing as we add more."
City recreation staff levels are at 75 per cent, according to Mitzell, but more people will be hired as programs ramp up.
Meanwhile, the number of visitors to the PCCC has doubled in the last two months to more than 8,000 visits from pass holders last month compared to 3,400 in September.
To meet the demand, some programs are already being added.
For example, the popular basketball program is full on Mondays and Thursdays. Wednesday nights are being added in mid-November.
Other programs ongoing at the new PCCC include spin, fitness classes and skating.
The PCCC has been opening in phases, as construction permitted, with the new 425 stall underground parkade recently added, as well as a third arena, multipurpose rooms, and outdoor sports courts.
EV car charging with space for four cars was also recently added.
For more information about programs, you can visit the City of Port Coquitlam's online leisure guide or, to register for a program/activity, visit portcoquitlam.ca/register.
