Small.
Louise Killens was determined to open Chelsea’s first physiotherapy clinic. About the same time, it came to light that the Regional medical board had been trying in vain for more than 5 years to establish a CLSC clinic in Chelsea, and three separate tendering exercises had failed to turn up suitable premises. A quick inventory of buildings in Chelsea confirmed the complete absence of suitable professional accommodation. A new building was needed to bolster community life. Thus CLSC has become 'cornerstone tenant' in a brand-new Professional Centre in the core of Chelsea. It's a local initiative in every sense.

Historically, Chelsea was always a proudly autonomous village, but for the last 40 years it has begun lapsing into a bedroom satellite, with no medical services, limited local employment, absolutely no options for local seniors, etc. (Ie. a very attractive, prosperous, albeit somewhat monolithic dormitory, with a long list of unmet community needs.)

Leading the vision are a very determined duo of Chelsea enthusiasts, engineer Peter Markhauser and project coordinator Warren Major. Peter Markhauser is a craftsman designer and custom builder, and his portfolio includes many quality homes in Chelsea over the last dozen years. Peter has an engineering degree from Concordia University. A former Canadian champion paddler, he spearheaded a campaign to acquire a community dragonboat, and has been active in the local association of business leaders. Warren Major is a retired diplomat and international negotiator for sustainable development. He has degrees in history from York University and in town planning from the University of Toronto. Warren's record of community involvement includes sports-programme development; senior- and assisted-living housing; municipal planning; and habitat preservation; and historical research and restoration. Major has owned and operated an organic farm in Chelsea for over thirty years.

Thus it should come as no surprise that respect for Chelsea and its environment is central to the whole concept --- in terms of architecture, energy efficiency, water and wastewater treatment, natural landscaping, and community involvement. The Municipality and Mayor have been instrumental in support of the CLSC initiative. They have stressed that a sustainable community requires a vibrant and viable village core. The provision of essential services, in a rural atmosphere, remains a cornerstone of Chelsea's Master Planning. "What other community has so many talented people?" asks Markhauser. "Our dream is simply to establish a creative outlet for that energy and innovation, right here in Chelsea."

(Conclusions from Royal Roads University Symposium):

A natural 'fit' for the community would be to envisage some appropriate accommodation for Chelsea's active seniors. Markhauser and Major plan extensive consultations as to what form this might take. "So far everyone is telling us the same thing: that when our seniors reach the stage when their typical-Chelsea-large-house-and-two-acres becomes too much to manage, they start looking around for attractive local alternatives --- and discover there aren't any." A lot of our active seniors end up in a downtown high-rise. This is an incalculable loss to the fabric of the community. "We're absolutely open to advice," repeats Markhauser. "As residents we all want Chelsea to evolve organically, in a sensitive and appropriate manner. It’s a matter of working out the practicalities with the Municipality”.

Curiously, the Chelsea area is the ultimate sporting location for the National Capital region. The municipality of Chelsea itself is severely lacking in basic sport related facilities and infrastructure. Conspicuously absent from our community are facilities such as a hockey arena, a pool, a full service gym, and basic infrastructure for our rapidly growing cross country skiing community.

As part of a multi-use project, situated on a 25 acre parcel of land in the heart of the village of Chelsea Innovation Chelsea is currently working with small businesses and volunteer organizations to begin to develop some of these much needed sporting facilities.

In summary, our organization is dedicated to working with the community and the dynamic volunteer organizations of the area to develop a truly healthy and vibrant sport and physical activity culture in this area.