Landscaping Has Begun!

Although the exercise facilities are on the lower level of the Wheel Addition, the ground level windows will allow morning and afternoon light to flood in while viewing the large landscaping stones and boxwood hedges for a fresh clean  look. 

This is the exterior view of the east windows. 

Neat & Tidy

Another glimpse into the New Exercise Facility currently under construction.   Impact resistant flooring, tiled showers, benches and individual lockers to store your belongings while working out.   Both the men's & women's change rooms have storage lockers. 

Equipment includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, rowing machines and new universal weight machines.   Large Screen TV's will also be installed to stay up on the news while exercising.  

New Entrance Way Link

Another construction peek....this shot shows work being done in the hallway link from the front doors to the existing Wheel main ballroom.   You will notice some of the continuing interior colours of burnt orange & deep blue.  Another closet is located behind the double doors.  

Sneak Peak 2

We are just as excited as the residents about seeing the completed building and thought you would appreciate taking another "sneak peek" at some more interior shots as construction moves along. In the interest of curiosity kills the cat, you will have to pardon the mess as we have not completed the painting or removed all the equipment. 

The interior shot here showcases the beautiful skylights brightening up the corridor along a beautiful stone wall to left which opens onto a large ballroom that can be divided into two separate rooms with sliding walls.   It definitely makes a great first impression.  On the right hidden behind a short wall is a long corridor of coat closets & pot lights.

Taking Shape

The construction phase is nearing completion, finishing touches are being done inside the addition with painting, trim work and flooring.  

This is a just a sneak peak of the cushioned floor currently installed in the New Exercise Facilities!   A bright addition to motivate you.  You will love the new washrooms, tiled showers, modern extended sinks for ease of access, wide doorways and lockers.   All new exercise equipment will be installed along with large screen tv's to catch up on the morning news as you pedal away or use the treadmills.  

Exercise Facilities expansion & move

These tiled showers are just a small glimpse into the new exercise facilties in the Wheel.  The large exercise room will have comfort under foot with resistance flooring to cushion against shock absorption and provide warmth.  Check back soon to see the work in progress

FEATURE WALL

In this photo you can see the impressive statement this Feature Wall will make.

Drywallers are getting ready to prime the walls.

FEATURE WALLS

Office staff were excited today to get a glimpse of the interior work in progress in the Wheel Addition courtesy of our Community Manager's camera.   The heating system is in place, electrical has been roughed in, all the windows have been installed and the drywallers are now sanding the walls for their primer coat.  

However, the most dramatic part of this new addition is the beautiful stacked interior stone interior wall which is breathtaking!   This stone feature wall is on the interior connection between the old and new buildings and on an entrance wall of the new addition ~ a great first impression from the new doorway and ramp.   The exterior is being clad in a beautiful cement board and will feature panels of the same stone. 

ENJOYING MOTHER NATURE AT HER BEST

As we say goodbye to winter, we can't help but think of the description of March...In Like a Lamb and Out Like a Lion.   Today we experienced snow flurries, sunshine and cold winds all to greet some of residents who were returning from their winter escape as they drop by reception.

For those residents who remained home, they kept themselves entertained with the many activities and events at the halls and enjoyed watching the season unfold.   Hayley & Stacey Morning are regular followers to our blog and have informed us of how they have made the best of their long winter enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer.  Being surrounded by nature in our rural setting residents are witness to many wildlife from squirrels to rabbits, a variety of birds, the occasional deer gracefully seen at dusk or listening to some coyotes howling in the distance, but the most entertaining visitors for Hayley & Stacey this year have been the large feather friends who graced their property along the treed buffer to the farmer's field...Wild Turkeys!  (photo supplied by Hayley & Stacey)

Hayley informed us they enjoyed watching the turkeys arrive in a variety of sizes and numbers throughout the winter, keeping them entertained for hours.  With glimpses of Spring weather just around the corner we know we will be seeing the park come alive as nature unfolds with trees getting their new foliage, Spring flowers in bloom and residents enjoying catching up with their neighbours as they stop to chat or wave as they walk by. 

Every season can be wonderful when we sit back and savour all that is around us.  Take a moment today to just enjoy the sunshine or whatever weather is thrown at us as we each contemplate plans for the season ahead.   Hopefully your life is full of moments that give you great pleasure in your surroundings.

Our Addition Update

For our residents who winter away you may have been watching the progress on line of the wheel Recreation Centre.  For those of us anxiously watching each day, it seemed to take a long time to see the building going up but when you think of the process of applying for permits, foundation digging, pouring footings, constructing the walls floor by floor, a lot has happened!

The roof has gone on, insulation has been blown in, the building is now wrapped and windows are being installed this week.  One of the exciting new items for these windows will be the mortorized blinds that will be installed on the clerestory windows shown in the photo.  Just think at the touch of a button they can be opened and closed ~ ah the joys of modern technology.

Raising The Roof

The roof has finally been added to the new addition of the Wheel Recreation Centre.     

As you can see from the photo of the existing building of the Wheel the new addition will seamlessly blend into the existing structure and a new facelift on the exterior of the existing building will make this an impressive first impression as your enter our community.

Dominion Tankard Give Away



William & Elsa Dancer

Sandycove is pleased to give away tickets to an event in our local community, the Dominion Tankard 2013.   Sandycove residents were asked to call in and answer a curling related question.   The first two callers to correctly answer won a pair of tickets each.

Congratulations to Elsa Dancer & George Yanakeff who both won tickets to The Dominion Men’s Curling Championships, the premier curling event for Ontario to be held in Barrie in Feb 2013 at the Barrie Molson Centre. 



George Yanakeff

Both of our Sandycove residents and a guest will watch as eleven teams representing Ontario will play down to an exciting final that will determine the team representing Ontario in the national Brier.  The action will feature local curling icon Glen Howard.

 

Don’t forget to watch the Sandycove TV Channel 20 for other contests throughout the year. 

 

Life Begins Now ~ Why Wait?



Construction Update

 

Our mild winter is not slowing down the ongoing construction of the addition to the Wheel Recreation Center in the south park.  The foundation is poured, the walls have gone up and the roof is next.  The addition has been designed to fit seamlessly into the existing building adding two floors of recreational space. 

Heather Rice has been meeting with contractors to keep the project on target and picking out the finishing touches with suppliers.  Anticipation is building as both office and maintenance staff check weekly to see the progress along with the residents who glance at the construction teams daily as they enter our community. The addition has been designed to fit seamlessly into the existing building, adding two additional floors of recreational space for resident use.

Heather Rice has been meeting with contractors to keep the project on target and picking out the finishing touches with suppliers. Anticipation is building as both office and maintenance staff check weekly to see the progress along with residents who glance at the construction teams daily as they leave and enter our community.

SEASONS GREETINGS

We are always pleased to hear from our residents.

"To the Management and Staff of Sandycove Acres

After moving here two years ago, my wife Christine and I cannot get over how helpful, pleasant and friendly you have all been to us.  We can't think of anywhere else we would like to live.  

To you and your families we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Jack Blenkinsop & Christine Harvey-Blenkinsop

SANDYCOVE WELCOMES NEW RESIDENTS

Sandycove was pleased to host our annual New Resident Christmas Luncheon recently to welcome new residents to our community,   some moving here from as far away as St. John's Newfoundland but many residents from the surrounding local areas of Barrie, Innisfil and Newmarket who wish to remain living close to their former neighbourhood with ties to family and friends.  

Residents were treated to a hot turkey luncheon, entertainment by our talented Sandycove residents, music and exhibits showcasing all the activities, clubs and entertainment available for residents to enjoy while living in Sandycove. 

We are always pleased to see returning residents who lived here for a short while, then moved out to be closer to their kids, then return because they missed the camaraderie of friends and neighbours who had similar interests.   Many tell us they have "moved back home" when they return to Sandycove and once living here could not replace the community feeling anywhere else.  

Management & staff are extremely proud of our community, the awards we have won for quality & service and for the residents who choose to call Sandycove their home.   That same feeling is felt amongst our staff as many are long term employees with 30 & 25 years of service and the family feeling of caring starts from management and trickles down amongst staff - we too feel at home here and are blessed to have the opportunity to work under the Rice & Robertson families of Sandycove Acres Limited.  And as we see the next generation unfold with the same care and attention to the growth and development of Sandycove we know that Sandycove Acres will continue to be a community that remains in the forefront of excellence & care.

 

QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE AWARD

Congratulations to our second Sandycove resident ROBERT MOLYNEAUX for also being awarded the prestigious Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal this summer for his countless hours of community service, dedication and involvement with minorities.   Robert is a retired Deputy Chief of Police with over 30 years of service on the force.  Robert was nominated by the Chief of Police, Toronto Police Services, followed up by local politicians.    

Thank you Robert for your dedication and service to the community.  We are beaming with pride!

Sandycove Resident Recipient of Jubilee Medal

Sandycove is proud to recognize the efforts of our resident HARRY BOYER on being awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his voluntary service with Habitat for Humanity.   

 Harry Boyer is a very seasoned volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Barrie.  He has helped with demolition sites and many other projects throughout the years and at age 92 Harry is still contributing to Habitat. 

 The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians in their communities.  Recipients of this award are chosen through a nomination process conducted by both the federal and Ontario governments. This (Diamond Jubilee) medal has only happened once before when Queen Victoria reached it in 1897— the likelihood of it happening again is not in our lifetimes. 

This is a wonderful day to celebrate community members and wonderful Canadians.  Congratulations Harry Boyer, we are proud of your efforts and dedication to giving back to the community and proud to say you are one of the many dedicated residents living in Sandycove. 

Living on the Edge

 

 

 

 Sandycove Residents like to live on the edge of excitement.   We enjoyed receiving this photo of Carol McCarthy spending the day in Toronto with her niece Joy.   Both ladies experienced the Edge Walk from the roof of the CN Tower restaurant 1,168ft above ground this past summer.   

 This is a great example of the positive attitude of Sandycove residents.   Thank you, Carol for sharing your enthusiasm for life with us proving moving to Sandycove does not end your life experiences, but provide you with the time to embrace more adventures along the way.

Expanded Recreation Facilities

Permits have been released and construction has begun. 

We are very excited in Sandycove to start work on the expansion of our south park recreation centre known as “The Wheel”.   Fencing around the construction site is drawing a lot of daily attention from our residents as they watch in anticipation the stages of construction. Project completion is scheduled for spring 2013. 

 

Our new expansion consists of two floors:  the main level will include a side entry with coat closets, washrooms and an activity room that can be divided into smaller rooms for separate smaller events when needed. 

The lower level consists of a new fitness centre, open space for aerobics plus men’s & women’s changes room, showers and washrooms.  Additional storage areas are located on both the main and lower levels of the building.

 

 Watch our blog to follow the construction stages.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

We are thrilled to post comments from our residents.   This post was submitted to our administration office for posting on the Sandycove In-house Community Channel.

"HAPPY SANDYCOVE DAY TO ME" " I bought in Sandycove 15 years ago and haven't regretted it for one minute.  Lucky Me!"

CAROL M.