Page 60 - PCYC 75th Anniversary Book

What kind of club What on earth

do you want?? took so long?
By Past Commodore Dennis Moss

The choice was likely quite clear! The AGM in
Basically, negotiating with the City, The Credit Valley
November of 1982 saw members vote to proceed to
Conservation Authority, the Federal Departments of
negotiate with the City to secure fi rst right of refusal to
Fisheries and Oceans, Public Works and Justice, the Ontario
develop Crookes Park as a new site for the Port Credit
Ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources, the
Yacht Club. An extensive survey of members was then
OMB, and the Federal Treasury Board, all of whom had
undertaken to determine needs and wants. The survey
different objectives and agendas, caused enormous time
said “the members would like the new club to be
commitments, frustrations, and of course, delays.
superior in overall quality to the current club. At least half
By the summer of 1983, the City and the CVCA had
of the members would like the new club to approximate
passed resolutions to negotiate leases with PCYC. Extensive
the quality of the Boulevard Club.” Yet when conceptual
planning reports had been prepared by PCYC committees.
layouts for the harbour and grounds, along with fi nancial
The Federal Government announced that it would pay
details were presented to the members in September
for the breakwall armouring. In the fall, the membership
1983, a hot and stormy debate ensued. Some members
approved the Plan For The Future and voted to proceed.
who resented the “Taj Mahal” approach left the Club
All looked good. Then the Federal Government dropped
then and there! The rest voted to proceed, with a target
a bombshell. They imposed some unexpected and
of 1986 for occupation of the new site.
unacceptable conditions on their fi nancing, They fi gured that
since they were paying for the armouring of the breakwall,
Newspaper Articles
Plans to revitalize the Port Credit Harbour hinge on PCYC moving they would own the water lots inside the breakwall, so they
and we say YES!
could dictate the terms and conditions for the leasing of it.
By the spring of 1984, due to the unacceptable
conditions imposed by the Federal Government and slow
progress on landfi ll at the new site, it was apparent that
construction at the new site would have to be postponed
for at least one year. In fact, diffi cult lease negotiations with

Ground Breaking Ceremony – 1989
Above Left – Turning of the sod (left to right) Donna Lane Councillor Ward 8,
MP Don Blenhorn, Commodore Dennis Moss and MPP Margaret Marland
were on hand to offi cially break ground at the new site.
Above Right – Sea Scouts prepare to raise the Canadian fl ag and our burgee
for the fi rst time at Lakefront Promenade.
Bottom – Our boats are all dressed for the event!
58 The 1980s Port Credit Yacht Club History 59