Sandycove Acres welcomes Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities to Innisfil

The Shareholders of Sandycove Acres Limited confirm that the community of Sandycove Acres, located in the Town of Innisfil, will be sold to Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities of Wasaga Beach, with head office in Calgary, Alberta.  Parkbridge is a vibrant company which is the largest owner and manager of land lease communities in Canada.  The company brings a wealth of knowledge to its involvement in Sandycove Acres. 

The strength of Sandycove Acres and indeed its' heart, has always been the residents.  From the inception of the community in 1971, the residents have brought their talent and energy to Sandycove.  You have organized and participated in thousands of events and activities over the years.   You have volunteered both within Sandycove and in the larger community of Innisfil.  You have made recommendations as to the betterment of the community.   You have worked with management to make Sandycove the community that it is.  We are confident that none of that will change going forward.   We thank you for that. 

We are satisfied that under the new ownership, the energies of Sandycovers combined with the new ideas emanating from Parkbridge management will only advance the lifestyle available here in Sandycove Acres. 

A Sandycove Legacy

If you have been out walking in Sandycove lately and using the link walkway between the North and South park you may have been wondering what all the construction is about.  

Management and staff have talked about creating a memorial feature to honour Max Rice & Dave Robertson and it is finally happening.   You may have read about these two men on our website in the history of our community.   Max Rice was a very successful developer and Dave Robertson brought his knowledge and expertise of the mobile home industry together as these two friends recognized a need for aging seniors and formed a partnership to create an Adult Lifestyle Community in a rural scenic setting away from the city but centrally located for family and friends to visit.  Forty-one years later Sandycove Acres has successfully grown into a small community itself with 1,254 homes and over 1,834 active seniors.  

Sandycove Acres has been recognized and awarded over the years for Quality of Service, Business of the Year, Commitment to the stakeholders of Sandycove our residents and involvement in the Innisfil community. Their quest for excellence is seen everywhere, in the daily maintenance of the park, in the annual upgrades throughout the community and recreation centres, in the support of the daily activities in the park and in the pride of the employees who work here.   Max & Dave are no longer with us, however their sons Rod Rice & Trevor Robertson have taken on the same commitment for excellence.  

It is with great pride that we are honoured to create a place to meet, sit and reflect along the link walkway between the North and South parks, a link from our past to the future.   Interlock walkways, a gazebo, benches, landscaping and a special plaque will create a lasting memory in honour of Max Rice and Dave Robertson that we hope you will enjoy for years to come.

GIANT GIFT & CRAFT SHOW & SALE

Sandycove residents are finishing their last minute items for their very successful gift & craft sale.  This popular annual event draws savvy shoppers who arrive early to get a start on their Christmas shopping.  

All items are made by Sandycove residents who love the opportunity to showcase their talent and for those of us who eagerly await this sale to stock up on our favourite items at great prices.  Many now involve their children to help them set up their displays.   Items include baking, preserves, art, woodwork, jewellery, knitwear, giftware  and more.   There is something for everyone on your list.

Don't miss this sale SATURDAY, OCT 19th from 9:00 - 2:00 FREE Admission & Parking all held at the Wheel Recreation Centre located in our South Park entrance on Lockhart Road.

Exceptional People with Extraordinary Hearts

Management & staff were proud to host a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on September 11th to thank 342 residents who volunteer their time and energy to provide over 89 clubs and activities within the Sandycove community. 

These activities enrich the quality of life for 1,842 residents living in Sandycove.   Residents who volunteer stay active, make new friends and say if they knew they were going to have this much fun they would have moved here years ago.  It is this enthusiasm and interest that provides an active lifestyle for others to enjoy 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

We are very proud of the volunteers in Sandycove.  Baby boomers from a generation of people who believe in embracing life to the fullest and giving back to the community.   Our residents volunteer their time so that others can learn a new skill, participate in a hobby, game, activity, fitness, art, craft, health for the body and mind to volunteering to give back to others performing at senior's centres or raising money for local charities & hospital.

Sandycove Volunteers were treated to a hot luncheon, had their picture taken at a fun photo booth, were entertained by a professional singer, given take home gifts of jars of honey to wining one of the ipads or floral bouquets.  

These same volunteers, who give so much of their time to others, were taken on an exclusive tour of the new addition to the Wheel Recreation Centre, scheduled to open October 2nd.   WOW was the word we heard over and over again when viewing the movable walls, stone facing, electronic systems and new Fitness Centre complete with large screen televisions. 

All in all a very successful event.   Thank you once again to our many residents, we are so proud of each of you. 

FLEXIBLE SPACES

The new ballroom features a large pocket door that can quickly divide the space into two smaller rooms for more functions.   The beautiful Maple wood is featured on both sides of the door and this same wood is carried throughout the addition to the new closets, hallway and trim.

You will also just start to see some of the wood used as a feature on the ceiling.

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.