Ann Knapp

Dunbar Community Centre Association

The Dunbar Community Centre is jointly operated between the Vancouver Park Board and the Dunbar Community Centre Association. The association is made up of individuals from the community that are elected by the members of the association. "To provide and promote recreational, educational, social and cultural services for the community through the Dunbar Community Centre" Established in 1958 through a local improvement by-law initiative whereby residents in the area agreed to directly fund the original building costs, this busy centre is located on Memorial Park West (7.5 hectares), a verdant greensward bounded by large shade trees and comprising playfields, playgrounds and a bank of six tennis courts. The park's original name was Dunbar Park but this was changed following World War I to Memorial Park. The "West" was added onto the park's name following the amalgamation of West Point Grey and South Vancouver Municipalities with the City of Vancouver where a park with the same name already existed. The community centre is positioned near the corner of West 33rd Avenue and Dunbar Street only a short block from the busy Dunbar shopping district. Dunbar Community Centre serves a multi-cultural residential community of all ages. A wide and diverse number of recreational programs and activities are on tap here including outdoor lawn bowling plus seasonal special events. Dunbar's very active fitness centre was expanded through a joint Park Board/Community Centre Association initiative in 1998. The Dunbar Community is served well by this board and we are continuing to improve the quality of life and provide necessary services for our community.