Ribbon cutting officially opens PEFAC’s new accessible cardio space

At the ribbon cutting for the new accessible cardio space at PEFAC, from left, are: PEFAC board members Art Knight, PEFAC Personal Training Director Conor Forbes, PEFAC board members Tom Faulker, Alastair Mathers, Ontario Trillium Foundation board member Gary Bennett, Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson, MPP Todd Smith Representative David Joyce, PEFAC General Manager Meloni Crandall, PEFAC board members Monica Alyea, Martin Stanley, Sue Mathieu, Mat Smith and Brian Mellor.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony showed off how $120,000 in grant funding increased accessiblity for the new cardio space at the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre (PEFAC) in Picton.

Friday, PEFAC welcomed members, staff, board members and government officials to see how the $100,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, and a $20,000 grant from the County, was spent to move, and enhance the cardio space.

In addition to a renovated cardio space, PEFAC increased the square footage of the cardio and weight room. Cardio was previously on the second floor of the facility and is now located on the main level, next to the weight room. The new space also opened up areas for stretching and allows members to try new pieces of equipment in their workout program.

“This grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, along with the capital grant from the County of Prince Edward was vital to the growth of PEFAC,” said Art Knight, vice-president of the board of directors. “These grants have allowed PEFAC to continue to grow and improve our services to our members and the residents of Prince Edward County. It was a much-needed renovation to better accommodate our 1,100-plus members, which keeps growing daily.”

Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith’s representative, David Joyce, Ontario Trillium Foundation board member Gary Bennett, and County Mayor Steve Ferguson congratulated PEFAC, and were pleased with what they saw.

“This cardio workout area will provided expanded opportunities for PEFAC members and others in Prince Edward County to stay active in an accessible setting,” said Smith, congratulating PEFAC on a successful application for the grant.

PEFAC is a not-for-profit facility striving to promote and support community health through its fitness programs, swimming pool and recreation programs.