New West residents can enjoy a workout, connect with community members and pay bills in one trip from home.
Residents have traditionally had to go to city hall to pay their property taxes, utility bills and parking tickets and to buy dog licences, but those services are now available at Centennial Community Centre and Queensborough Community Centre.
Some of the services were added at Queensborough Community Centre after it reopened after its expansion and renovation last year.
“It was so successful the city wanted to look at other opportunities in other neighbourhoods,” said Renee Chadwick, manager of Queensborough Community Centre. “Centennial Community Centre has now come on board. People in that neighbourhood can go there to pay those as well. It is convenient, more accessible.”
Chadwick said one of the perks of being able to pay these bills at the two community centres is they have later operating hours than city hall.
“We have expanded hours in a lot of cases,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for people to pay if they are not paying online.”
Queensborough Community Centre is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. On the other side of town, Centennial Community Centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
“It’s kind of one-stop shopping,” Chadwick said. “It’s more convenient for people. If they are out for a walk in the neighborhood, they can pop by Queensborough Community Centre or Centennial Community Centre.”
The expanded service also gives residents a chance to drop by their local community centre, where they may discover activities and programs they may want to try out, Chadwick said.
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