A newly renovated Mickey McDougall Community Recreation Centre opened June 23, following extensive energy upgrades that will serve as the long-term home of Flicka Gymnastics Club.
The $6.2 million project included a modernized, purpose-built gymnastics training space, a new public entrance, upgraded mechanical systems, and enhanced energy efficiency measures, according to the news release.
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Flicka Gymnastics, a North Shore organization founded in 1962, has relocated to the facility from the former Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre, where it had operated since 1999.
Funding for the project was drawn from three sources: $2.2 million through the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, $2.7 million from the City of North Vancouver, and $1.3 million from Flicka Gymnastics itself. Renovations began in 2025.
Mayor Linda Buchanan said the project balances community investment with climate action and called the facility the club’s long-term home. Federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson credited the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for supporting a more energy-efficient and accessible neighbourhood space.
Club Director Marina Ricci said the renovated facility provides a purpose-built home for gymnastics in North Vancouver, supporting participants from introductory recreation to high-performance sport.
According to the news release, the club offers recreational and competitive programs, kindergym, and specialized classes for children with autism spectrum disorder taught by staff trained by the Canucks Autism Network. The club has produced Olympians, including Shallon Olsen, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.
The Mickey McDougall reopening is part of a broader transformation of recreation infrastructure in the area. The new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre is scheduled to open in late July, and the new Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre, alongside the North Vancouver Lawn Bowling Clubhouse and Greens, is also expected to open.
