The only physical evidence that the CMCC opened its doors during Covid is the decals on the surface of the walking track reminding users to remain a safe distance apart. Those were the days! After a slow start, the CMCC now welcomes a wide variety of users as the facility becomes better known. Junior classes from Millbrook South Cavan (MSC) hike the hill in the warm weather to cool off and play in the playground and splash pad under the careful supervision of their teachers. During the fall and winter months, MSC students are on the ice working on their skating skills. The Overlook room and the banquet hall are rented by local clubs, private companies and individuals for celebrations and educational events. Other rooms such as the Studio are booked by Community Care, private fitness class instructors and even North Cavan Public School. It is also used by the municipality to bring the community together to celebrate events such as Canada Day.
This summer, township recreation staff operated six weeks of day camp for youngsters in the community. The walking track becomes popular during unhospitable outdoor weather, but is particularly helpful for people like James, who is recovering from a serious farm accident; the track provides a soft, secure surface which helps him navigate his new physical challenges. Athletes also appreciate this facility. Individuals use it to train for activities such as marathons while teams use it to develop stamina for sports including hockey.
From April until the end of June, the surface of the ice pad offers the opportunity to play pickle ball during the day, while it is fully booked on weekday evenings where it welcomes a minor ball hockey league with roughly 40 teams, operating from the beginning of May until the end of June. The return of the ice surface in July seemed premature, but the ice schedule told a different story. For several weeks, the ice has been rented for as much as twelve hours a day during the week for hockey schools, private rentals and public skating.
During local emergencies such as broad power-outages and severe heat waves, the facility has provided a shelter for the community at large. Don’t wait for a calamity to visit this facility; it has been built, now it’s time to come and enjoy it.