Our Story...

The Nose Creek Sports and Recreation Association (NCSRA) was formed as a not-for-profit organization in November of 1997 to spearhead the development of a community-oriented recreation complex designed to meet the diverse and growing wellness, recreation, sport and social needs of residents in the north central region of Calgary. 

Community leaders and volunteers from throughout the region came together with Parks and Recreation staff from The City of Calgary to discuss the recreational and social needs in their various communities.  Residents knew they needed much more than a fitness facility or sportsplex.  They envisioned a multi-purpose recreation centre that would provide opportunities for recreation, leisure, active wellness and positive social interaction among children, youth, families, adults and older adults residing in the region.  They wanted to construct a facility that would be a focal point and play a significant role in establishing a sense of community belonging and spirit. 

As one of the fastest growing regions in the city, the Nose Creek area is home to over 95,000 residents and conservative growth projections predict that once the area is fully developed the population will exceed 120,000 people. 

The regional recreation centre model was developed by The City of Calgary in the mid-1990’s as a creative and innovative approach to meet the recreation needs of the city’s rapidly growing suburban communities.  The foundation of this model is a partnership between The City and the community in which the regional recreation facility is located.  In this partnership, The City provides the land and the majority of capital resources to build the facility.  The community assumes full responsibility for both start-up and on-going operating expenses, furnishing and equipping the facility, and for ensuring a provision is made for future sustainability through formation of both an operating reserve and a capital maintenance reserve to fund future lifecycle expenses associated with the replacement of building components and systems. 

Cardel Place is the third regional recreation centre to be built in Calgary.  The first two facilities, one in south Calgary (South Fish Creek Recreation Centre in partnership with the Shawnessy YMCA) and one on the west side of the city (Westside Recreation Centre), have become very successful models of the benefits of municipal government/community partnership. 

This dynamic, multi-faceted project was developed based upon an extensive community consultation process through open houses, surveys and interviews with area residents and stakeholders. 

The 195,000 square foot recreation complex includes the third largest branch of the Calgary Public Library-the Country Hills Library.  The Calgary Catholic School Board’s senior high school, Notre Dame High School, is located south of Cardel Place.  The Calgary Board of Education’s, Coventry Hills Middle School, will be built to the east of Cardel Place and is slated to open in 2010.  The City of Calgary Police, EMS, Fire and By-law Services are located directly west of the Centre. 

The name ‘Cardel Place for community, sports & recreation’ was created through a naming partnership launched between Cardel Homes, The City of Calgary and the Nose Creek Sports and Recreation Association in 2003 prior to the facility opening to the public in September 2004.  Cardel Homes committed a total of $1.25 million dollars ($125,000 annually) to be utilized at the discretion of the Association over ten years.  At the conclusion of the ten year term the financial terms and conditions may be renegotiated for two additional five year terms.  Cardel Homes also works collaboratively with Cardel Place to organize and host three-four community outreach events per year.