The game-day entrance to the Toldo Lancer Centre has been renamed the City of Windsor Entrance in recognition of municipal support for the athletics and recreation facility.

The sign was unveiled during a ceremony Saturday at the state-of-the-art centre. University students, staff, and faculty, community members and members of Windsor City Council attended.

“It is an honour for our community to see the renaming of the University of Windsor’s Toldo Lancer Centre’s game-day entrance to the City of Windsor Entrance,” said mayor Drew Dilkens.

“This entire partnership between the University and the city has helped to create a community hub for families and residents, while representing a once-in-a-generation enhancement for a core neighbourhood in Windsor.

“The entranceway serves as a symbol of this partnership’s ability to open doors to healthy, active living for our residents, our families, and our students. We are grateful for the recognition, proud of the hub the centre has become, and inspired by the possibilities it continues to offer.”

In its first year of operation, the Toldo Lancer Centre has welcomed nearly 590,000 users, including more than 800 children attending swim lessons. Lancer Recreation has forged partnerships with more than 15 community groups — many located in Windsor’s west end — giving their members access to the facility for free or at a reduced rate.

Apart from people who use the fitness centre, pool, and recreation programs as individuals, the centre is used by groups for fitness-based fundraising events and for medical rehabilitation programs. Area schools use the centre for tournaments and for gym classes, and the low-ropes challenge course is popular for team-building excursions. The Toldo Lancer Centre is also home to Lancer summer camp programs.

“We are grateful to the City of Windsor for its unwavering support and commitment, which has been instrumental in helping position the Toldo Lancer Centre as a premier sports facility in our region,” said president Rob Gordon.

“The TLC serves as a vibrant hub for our varsity sports teams and a central point for both campus and community well-being. It symbolizes the remarkable partnership between the city and the university, and we look forward to more shared achievements in the future.”

Linda Rohr, dean of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, also expressed gratitude for the city’s support.

“The Toldo Lancer Centre is a remarkable asset for our campus and for the community at large. Through the programming and services we are able to offer and the research that takes place here, the Toldo Lancer Centre contributes to the health and wellness of our local community. Without the City of Windsor’s support, that would not be the case.”

The Toldo Lancer Centre includes a 25-metre pool that is fully accessible, a suspended track overlooking a new triple gymnasium, a fitness centre that spans two floors, and multi-purpose rooms for fitness classes and personal training.

Through their ancillary fees, University of Windsor students have contributed $55 million toward the $73 million cost of the building. Fourth-year student Emily Stanley says it’s money well spent.

“This is a place where everyone from across campus and the community intersect,” she said. “It truly is a hub.”

—Sarah Sacheli