Kids are getting ready for Back to School, which means Jelly Bean dances start again soon! Keep an eye out in this Reflections for announcements regarding the dates for all activities taking place at the hall this fall. September also brings with it the re-opening of the Renfrew Community Pub, Friday Nights at 7:00 pm. Draft beer on tap, and always reasonable prices!
The Hall underwent some much-needed renovations and repairs over the summer, which are hopefully close to completion as of the time of publication. The ceilings in the West End, Social Room, and Main Hall have been replaced, as well as furnaces, carpeting, and some Main Hall flooring. Other behind-the-scenes repairs included fixing of a foundation leak in the West End entrance, mold remediation in the Main Hall and West End staircase, subflooring fixes, and electrical work. There were also some cosmetic changes made in the Social Room and Main Hall. However, most of the upgrades were emergency repairs that needed to be undertaken, and, as of the time of writing this, the project involved about $240,000 of work. Unfortunately, further issues came to light as the work progressed, which are maybe not all that surprising, given that the community hall is aging, having been originally built in the 1960’s.
Although we would love to be able to undertake steps to create an updated and more modern look, we expect at least one more round of structural and urgent repairs before we can look at undertaking cosmetic steps. The RCA is required to come up with its own funds to contribute to repairs and renovations; however, grants do fund most of the work, including grants from the City of Calgary, Province of Alberta, and elsewhere. The Board does its best to apply for funding when and where it can, but if you hear of a potential grant that could help us with painting, replacing chairs and tables, or equipment or supplies that could be put to good use by the Hall, and have some time to assist with grant writing, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] to get the process started!
Make sure to follow the Renfrew Community Association on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, @renfrewca, for the most up-to-date information!
Notice of Board Meeting: Next Board meeting is Tuesday, September 24, at 7:00 pm, at the Hall.
