Save Simmons AGAIN!
Save Simmons AGAIN!
Save Simmons AGAIN!
In December, 2020 there was a resolution passed by Charlottetown City Council to decommission Simmons Sport Centre without public input. The community banded together to show their support with the ‘Save Simmons’ Campaign and ‘Simmons’ was spared. Planning began WITH public input and $25.5 million funding was secured for a great new facility!
On March 10th, 2022 City Council passed a resolution to replace the name of Simmons Sport Centre for the new facility in exchange for $250,000 amounting to $16,666/year over 15 years for “naming rights”.
Simmons Sport Centre was named 50 years ago in honor of the very generous land donation that it sits on today. In 1971, Frank & Ethel Simmons donated the land occupied by Simmons Arena, Simmons pool and Simmons fields to the community for recreational purposes. This was in addition to previous land donations for Queen Charlotte Intermediate School, Spring Park Church, and Colonel Gray High School. This land was part of the Simmons Farm since 1877 when it was purchased by their Grandfather George Simmonds. It was a very significant family legacy they donated to the City and in return the City generously named the facility Simmons Sport Centre in their honor. Frank and Ethel were siblings and neither had any children. Frank and Ethel’s nieces Patricia and Florence Simmons were very generous to the city as well. ie Florence Simmons Hall at Holland College. Florence was the last surviving member of the Simmons family line. The local Simmonds family were cousins to Frank and Ethel Simmons and 5 generations have lived in the area over the past 75 years and wish to commemorate their ancestors’ generosity. Multiple generations from all over the island have enjoyed Simmons Sport Centre to this day and it is important to carry that history forward because memories make up the fabric of our lives❤️
We, the undersigned feel that the new facility should remain as "Simmons Sport Centre" in honor of the Simmons family’s significant generosity to the city of Charlottetown.