What's Going Up?

News!  Our plans to build a Really Big Climbing Gym have led to 2 other great developments: a climbing academy replacing two courses a year with climbing content for students in Grades 9 – 12, and; we’re also the host facility for the World Youth Climbing Championships, as it visits North America for the first time in 2013.

WHAT: A Really Big Climbing Gym, That’s What!

We’re really proud of our success at the Boulders. Whether it is our school programs, therapy programs, or just the fun of watching a child celebrate their birthday by scaling our walls, we find ways to allow everyone to challenge themselves through climbing. As a not-for-profit society, we operate through an innovative partnership with Stelly’s Secondary School and School District 63. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can find growth and conquer challenges through climbing, regardless of ability or financial limitations.

And it’s worked - almost too well. We are unable to meet our current demand. We’ve basically become too popular. At the same time, our current facility, at 24 feet tall, is limiting the training opportunities for our climbers. While people climb for many different reasons, some of the youth at our facility love the thrill of competition, and have represented Canada on the international stage. Unfortunately, there isn’t a climbing gym in Canada that is similar in scope and scale to what these young climbers encounter internationally.

So we’re going to build a gym that meets the needs of all our user groups. We’re going to add a cross-training facility which will improve fitness opportunities for students at Stelly’s, and recreational climbers at the gym. We’re going to build a world-class climbing facility with 60 foot walls and a variety of angles, along with a homologated (think world record) speed wall.  

We’re going to be green, too. Our facility will meet LEED standards, and we’re looking at ways to increase energy efficiency. The entire south face of the building will slide open, allowing spectators to watch and enabling the building to be self-cooling in warmer months.