Simcoe Gliders Gymnastics Club needs to relocate

By Alex Hunt

Norfolk County Agricultural Society is moving forward with a new master plan and the Simcoe Gliders Gymnastics Club has been asked to vacate the fairgrounds’ grandstand building by July 1, 2025.

“The decision not to renew the lease came as a surprise to us,” said Louise Lovell, president of The Simcoe Gliders Gymnastics Club. “When we moved to the facility in 1991, the original plan was to stay for five years and find a permanent home. So, we have been searching for a home for 33 years.”

On Nov. 1, Simcoe Gliders announced to its members that it must secure a new location of operations by March 1. If a new facility is not found, further discussions will consider dissolving the club or storing the equipment until a new home is found. Transitional plans will take place if a new building is secured in a prompt time frame. 

“I’m not optimistic that we will find something by March 1st,” said Lovell. “The situation is a bit more dire for us than it has been over the past 33 years.”

Angela Hogeveen, general manager of the Norfolk County Agricultural Society, says that the business decision wasn’t personal and offered assistance on securing a new location which the club did not accept. The weekly Simcoe Farmers’ Market will be moved to the grandstand facility after the 2025 county fair season.

“We have been engaging in strategic planning that involves us developing a master plan for the use of our grounds and how we use all of our buildings for both the near and long-term future,” said Hogeveen. “We have a certain number of buildings on our site, and we have a mandate from our board to do more year-round with them.”

Hogeveen clarifies that the society will not be replacing the Gliders with another tenant to charge higher rent.

“As part of that master plan, that was a building we wanted to gain back as we examined and change the use of our buildings on our site which was the grandstand facility,” said Hogeveen.

“We do have a plan for both the grandstand and the homecraft building moving forward, so this was a piece of a larger puzzle.” 

The Simcoe Gliders are exploring options to secure operation space of 5,000-10,000 square feet that includes long term lease options, full year access, industrial or commercial zoning, and a ceiling with a height of 20 feet with the ability to set equipment into the ground/floor, giving them space to fit a wide range of gym equipment.

The community is asked to email gliders_gymnastics@hotmail.com or call 519-428-5119 with any leads or suggestions on securing a new facility.