by Alex MacWilliam
On November 28 at 4:30 in the morning, the Calgary Fire Department responded to a call from a person who noticed smoke and fire coming from the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Centre. The fire was extinguished but not before it had heavily damaged a portion of the building. Thankfully, there were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire. Security camera evidence indicates that the fire was likely started a few hours earlier by an unhoused individual sheltering under the exterior stairs next to the west side of the building (the temperature that evening was -12°C with a strong north wind). That person fled the scene as the fire grew and does not appear to have been injured by the fire.
Early estimates peg the damage to the building at roughly $250,000 and it will take several months for repairs to be completed. In the meantime, the hall remains closed for the next few months, with the result that event and program bookings have been cancelled and groups and individuals have had to find other venues. Our general manager has been working tirelessly to assist parties in making alternate arrangements, in addition to dealing with CFD, the Calgary Police Service, insurers, contractors, and the City of Calgary (the owner of the building).
While this is an extremely unfortunate event for both the BRCA and those using the hall, we have been moved by the expressions of support we have received from many individuals, companies, and organizations. Within the first 24 hours of the fire, we were contacted by representatives of the Bridgeland Business Improvement Area, the Calgary Italian Cultural Centre, JEMM Properties, Servus Credit Union, the Alexandra Centre Society, the Bridgeland Campus Centre Street Church, and our liaison at the City of Calgary. In addition, there has been an outpouring of support on social media.
The hall is the heart of the BRCA and our primary source of income. It is also a very important gathering place for numerous groups and organizations. We are doing our best to assist our users with finding other locations to meet, pending completion of the repairs. The Farmers Market had a holiday market scheduled for five days after the fire. The Centre Street Church immediately came to its rescue and provided space at their Bridgeland Campus for this event to take place as well as offering to host our Seniors’ Holiday Social at no cost. Thank you to Lawrence Irwin, Andrea and Paul Lau, and others at CSC for demonstrating the true spirit of community. Thanks also to Edan Lindenbach at JEMM Properties for his kind offer to host our board meetings in their Bridge building while repairs are taking place.
In my column in last month’s newsletter, I focused on our community’s quirkiness. We are certainly that but we are also a kind, caring community. It is times like this where these characteristics come to the forefront and when they are most appreciated.
To end on a positive note, I want to recognize one of our long-time residents who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Doris Endre resides at Columbus Manor and lives independently, doing her own housekeeping and shopping. Doris is a commissioned painter (one of her paintings is in the photo) and a published author and poet. Happy 100th Birthday, Doris, from the BRCA. You are a great member of our community and an inspiration to us all.
