Corbett retires after more than 30 years with Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
They say that behind every great community centre are great members of the community - a sentiment that is most certainly true of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre (BMGCC) in Brussels. The centre recently bid adieu to its longtime facility operator turned facility manager, Abi Corbett, who has shifted gears from recreation to relaxation with her well-earned retirement.
She was instrumental in the operation of the BMGCC for many years, and oversaw a lot of the great events that make the space such a special hub for Brussels and the surrounding area. Corbett was kind enough to take a moment from her day to chat with The Citizen about her time facilitating recreation at one of Huron East’s favourite facilities, and how much of her retirement she’s really planning to dedicate to relaxation.
Corbett moved to Brussels from Kitchener in 1989, when her children were born, and found a place at the BMGCC a few years later, through the good old-fashioned grapevine. “I was looking for a job when my twins were only three,” she recalled. “A neighbour said that their babysitter had mentioned that their dad was looking for somebody at the arena. So I went up and talked to him and gave him my resume.” She started at the arena in 1992, and began working her way up. “I didn’t start full-time until amalgamation in 2001. I’ve been full-time since then, and when Murray [McArter] retired 14 years ago, I became the manager.” McArter spent over 30 years working at the Community Centre before Corbett took over, where he was often addressed by his nickname: “Crusher”. After he turned over the keys to his worthy successor, she found people started calling her “Crusher” as well. “Murray was a great boss, and I miss him beyond words. He taught me everything I needed to know, really. I did a lot of courses, but Murray was a great teacher.” McArter passed away in 2022.
Corbett attributes a lot of their success at the BMGCC to the people who use it. “The community was always very involved, so we always had people around, keeping us busy. People would come and try to get new programs going, and we’d always do our best to accommodate them as best we could.” Over the years, they’ve hosted dance classes, day camps, yoga and more. “I see day camps coming back, which is great. We went through quite a few years there where we weren’t getting anybody, so we kind of stopped it, so it’s great to see that coming back now... the young people were moving away, but now, there’s more young people staying. It’s nice to see that coming back.”
One of the programs on which Corbett worked with McArter was the Brussels Karate Club. “Karate has been going on in Brussels for two days a week for about 17 years now... I’m pretty proud of the karate! It was one that Murray and I implemented. We sent out a survey to the community asking them what they wanted, and there was a whole bunch of different things - the only one that is still going is karate. They just had a competition, and a couple kids came away with some gold medals. It’s just so nice to see.”
With all the activity that the BMGCC has seen over the years, McArter and Corbett often found their thoughts turning to potential improvements to the space. “Murray and I talked many times about how we needed a renovation, and bigger dressing rooms, and it never happened. It didn’t happen in his time, so it was really nice to see that happen before I left.” When the long-desired renovations were finally undertaken, it was another great example of community involvement. “The Building Committee was phenomenal,” she explained. “They went and visited so many arenas - most of them were arena people or contractors, so they knew a little bit about what needed to happen.” The upgrade includes an additional washroom and new dressing rooms.
When the local school closed, the BMGCC became an even more important part of the social fabric of Brussels. “It is the number-one community place, and everybody does come together. And Brussels is a community. As much as we are Huron East, Brussels is still Brussels. It’s a great community.”
It’s obvious that running the BMGCC was a labour of love that took a lot of work, which means that retirement is going to be a big change for the former facility manager. “I’m going to take a little time and just relax, and get my head around the fact that I’m not working anymore. I love to work with my hands and do crafty things and woodworking and stuff, so I’m working on some of that. I’ve got three grandkids - there’s two I babysit quite often, and then I have a new one that was born while I was away [Corbett vacationed immediately after retirement], so I’ll be spending some time with them too. I might work a little on my trailer in Hanover... I don’t know exactly what I’ll get into. Whatever it is, I’ll thoroughly enjoy it. I’ll keep busy!”