Parks, Facilities, Recreation and Cultural Services Department

Bill Fenwick
General Manager, Parks, Facilities, Recreation and Cultural Services

e-mail: 
phone:  905-735-1700 ext. 2114

or contact:
Linda Chappelle,
Administrative Assistant
e-mail: 

 

WE, the City of Welland employees who deliver Parks, Facilities, Recreation & Cultural Services, are committed to working together to protect, support and enrich the quality of life of the people who live, work, and play in the City of Welland.

We believe that this commitment can best be achieved by implementing ‘Our Team Values’.

Customer Service…

• We value people who every day, actively participate in serving our customers in a friendly, fair, positive, responsive and equitable way, by personally offering the best possible service, given the financial and physical resources available to them.
• We value people who take personal ownership of customer concerns or challenges and who are willing to go to extraordinary limits in terms of time, energy, and care to achieve positive results and satisfaction.
• We value people who continuously find ways to improve the service we provide to our customers.

Team Value…

• We value honesty and integrity and we expect people to always treat one another professionally and with respect.   This leads to mutual trust.
• We value a Council, staff and volunteer relationship that is positive, open and respectful.
• We value teamwork because we understand that innovation, creativity and good quality decisions are best nurtured in group exchanges of thoughts and ideas.
• We consider office politics and gossip to be negative and counter-productive and we commit to try hard every day to rise above this temptation.
• We believe that positive conflict and discussions are healthy for our organization and we encourage all to resolve issues quickly, professionally and privately.

Administration Division – Summary of Functions

GENERAL MANAGER PARKS, FACILITIES, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES

Administration:

• Manages and provides guidance for the overall department in consultation with Council, the City Manager, public and private agencies Confidential and administrative duties
• Administrative operating procedures and practices for the department in accordance with policies established by Council and the administrative direction established by the City Manager
• Develop, evaluates and maintains long range plans and operating and capital budgets relative to the Department for submission and approval to the City Manager and Council
• Council and General Committee Reports
• Coordination of meetings and special functions
• Research and compilation of data
• Maintain confidential files
• Organize staff training
• Maintenance of financial reports
• Preparation of payroll and accounts payables
• Attend meetings departmental, council and special interest groups

Tourism:

• Responsible for developing a number of research marketing and communication programs, that benefit the City’s tourism sector and contributes to its overall economic and social development.
• Responsible for development, coordination and promotion of tourism attraction (sites, events, festival and industry)
• Development of funding mechanism and event planning required.

Welland Recreation Canal Corporation

• The WRCC was established in 2001 as an independent body, with a Board of Directors made up of nine people; three members of council and six citizens approved by council.
• The WRCC’s mandate is to be the “stewards” of the Recreational Canal – to improve, develop and protect the Welland Recreational Waterway. 
• Foster public awareness of the recreational waterway
• Develop the recreational waterway for the benefit of the community
• To be transparent, responsive organization with the highest level of integrity and accountability
• Committed to leaving a legacy; to being an influential organization providing significant and or support to the community through the Recreational Canal.

Facilities Division – Summary of Functions

Municipal Facilities:

• Responsible for the physical amenities including repairs and maintenance of 25 facilities
• Maintain and repair of 20 plus playgrounds and 3 swimming pools, splash pad and 2 wading pools
• Responsible for building operations including security, caretaking and energy management
• Coordination of project and construction management

Arena and Special Events:

• Management of 2 arenas
• The 2 arenas are headquarters for the Welland Junior B Canadian Hockey Club, Welland Minor Hockey and the Welland Figure Skating Club.
• Main arena seat 2,049 with a wheel chair accessible viewing area.
• Public skating and private rentals available to schools and adults
• Ice in operation from August to April each year.
• Summer months floor used for lacrosse, summer camp and is available for private rentals
• Maintenance of 4 outdoor rinks along with 10 ground rinks that volunteer assume the responsibility for.
• Delivery of City equipment, set up and take down of City equipment for special events throughout the City year round.

Parks Division – Summary of Functions

Parks, Cemeteries and Forestry:

• Forestry Crew take care of planting, trimming and removing dead dying or diseased trees on city boulevards, parks and naturalization areas throughout the City.
• Responsible for care and maintenance of 50 community parks and parkettes
• Doan’s Ridge Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery care of grave sites, sales of interment rights and interment records management.
• Care and maintenance of 28 sports fields including ball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket pitch, lawn bowling, beach volleyball court.
• Horticultural crew maintain and design flower beds throughout the City

Recreation & Cultural Services Division - Summary of Functions

Administration:

• Division budget preparation and control
• Administration of Provincial grants and wage subsidies
• CLASS system administration
• Policy development and implementation
• Employee recruitment, selection and training

Recreation Program Development:

• Children, Youth, Adult, Older Adults
• Aquatic
• Summer Camp
• Special Interest

Community Development:

• Welland Projects Association (Winter Carnival, Rose Festival, St. George Family Day, Canada Day, etc.)
• Neighbourhood Recreation Associations
• Welland Sports Promotion Committee
• Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Community partnership development (YMCA, Library, & Museum, etc.)
• Consultation with Community Groups
• Volunteer Involvement  
• Special Events Coordination/Consultation

Community Arenas, Playing Fields, Playgrounds, Halls and Market Square:

• Coordination and allocation of facility use
• Playspace Development Program
• Administration of rental permits and collection of fees  

Marketing, Promotion and Public Awareness:

• Promotion of Facilities, Special Events, Programs, Etc.
• Public awareness (i.e. Alternatives to Pesticides, Bicycle Safety, Active Living, Fair Play)
• Design, production and distribution of the ‘Leisure Guide’
• Design and printing services for community organizations
• Advertising design and sales
• Bi-Monthly Senior’s Newsletter
• School flyers