City of Chilliwack to fund Cheam Leisure Centre weight room upgrades of over $250K

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CHILLIWACK — It’s out with the old and in with the new.

Thanks to a unanimous council decision at their meeting on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 11), the City of Chilliwack will fund over $250,000 worth of new strength equipment at the Cheam Leisure Centre.

According to a staff report from city staffer Jenna Stevens, the existing large plate weight and selectorized (changing the weight using a pin and weight stack) equipment in the Cheam Leisure Centre weight room have reached the end of their useful/service life and require replacement. The city noted that the heavy strength equipment remains intact and structurally sound, parts like cables, seat pads, grips, paint and other wear components do require frequent adjustments and replacements. As equipment ages toward the end of its useful life, obtaining replacement parts proves increasingly problematic and difficult, leading to extended downtime and an impact on the patron experience at Cheam Leisure Centre. Along with addressing maintenance challenges, the new equipment consists of updated designs that improve ergonomics, functionality, and aesthetics, comporting with modern fitness trends.

All told, Chilliwack City Council approved a contract with for $281,872.74 for the supply of weight strength room equipment and related accessories.

During the equipment transition period, additional upgrades like new flooring, painting, and cabinetry enhancements will be made to refresh the space in the Cheam weight room. The city says these improvements will further enhance the facility’s appeal and functionality, creating a modern and welcoming environment for all users.

The move follows a similar investment of $344,972.45 by the city to upgrade the weight room equipment at the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre in May 2024, which the city says was very successful in terms of implementation and public response. The city began installing the new equipment in August 2024, as part of a move to ensure a more standardized approach fosters familiarity for users and consistency in quality among city-owned fitness spaces.

Stevens wrote in the staff report that a project design team, comprised of a fitness design professional, YMCA personnel, and city staff, undertook an on-site review of the existing equipment and layout. Various design options were explored to ensure that the selected equipment meets current industry trends while optimizing space usage within the facility. Through this process, additional floor space was identified by removing redundant machines and incorporating more space-efficient equipment.

The City was able to secure a contractual discount of $71,474.87 for the new equipment. A buyback agreement was finalized for the old equipment, valued at $16,500.

Per the city staff report, the costs are broken out categorically below:

• $79,243.79 for selectorized (cable machines with pm weight selection)

• $60,116.21 plate loaded machines

• $52,588.60 weight plates and associated equipment (ex. benches, bars, racking)

• $56,406.55 for selectorized multi gym, inclusive of accessories

• $17,517.59 for functional fitness, stretching and storage

• $16,000 for delivery, install and testing of new equipment