WEST ROUGE SPORTS &
RECREATION ASSOCIATION
The West Rouge Sports and Recreation Association was founded in February 1960 while the Rouge was still a part of Pickering. The mandate of the organization was to serve as an umbrella association for all sports associations in "The Rouge".
The Association held its first fundraising dance on June 11, 1960 at the Heron Park Community Centre. In the 1970's, the West Rouge Sports & Recreation Association took over the West Rouge Country Club referring to it affectionately as "The Club House". The centre was operated by volunteers who cleaned, repaired, decorated for and organized events to raise funds for sporting activities.
When West Rouge became a part of Scarborough in 1974, sports associations went off on their own and the Country Club became an important part of the Recreation and Parks Department’s recreation facilities, primarily as a social / recreation activity centre.
The Association branched out in December 1975 co-sponsoring a local Community Flyer (now a newsletter). They continued to sponsor many sports teams and in 1977 they provided the West Rouge Canoe Club with a C-4 canoe.
Between 1974 and 1985, the Association worked in partnership with the City of Scarborough to upgrade the "Club House". Following an Engineer's Report on the building, the West Rouge Community Centre was closed in November 1986 until major structural repairs, renovations and upgrading could be carried out. The West Rouge Community groups continued to work together to assist the city through this process. The WRS&R organized a "gala event" for the grand re-opening of the newly renovated West Rouge Community Centre in September 1990.
In 2002, WRS&R together with the City of Toronto constructed Cross'roads Skateboard Park which has become a popular venue for West Rouge youth.
In recent years, the WRS&R have organized many community functions including a New Years Dinner and Dance, Family Day, Winterfest, Youth Dances, Yuk Yuks Comedy Night, Summer Concert Series, and an annual Halloween party for children.
In addition, the Association continues to provide funding to local sports teams and cultural activities and has sponsored the Canadian Dragon Boat Team, provided music and athletics monetary awards at Mowat CI.
Our aim is to organize and promote social, sporting, cultural and recreational programs and activities in order to encourage a spirit of community within the West Rouge area and to ensure an equal opportunity exists for all residents to participate in all programs and events.