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Seniors centre celebrates solar array

The 28 solar panel array on the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre roof will be celebrated on Friday, August 21, after having been postponed in March due to COVID-19, the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association and seniors centre announced this week.
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Dennis Olson installing rails for the solar panels on the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre roof earlier this year.

The 28 solar panel array on the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre roof will be celebrated on Friday, August 21, after having been postponed in March due to COVID-19, the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association and seniors centre announced this week.

The legacy project fulfills a wish of the late James Pawley, described as “an integral part” of the solar association board, to see a community solar array in Sechelt.

“When Jim died suddenly in March 2019, just days after teaching his final course about climate change, his family and the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association decided to plan a way to honour his memory. A life-long educator, Jim was committed to practical solutions, making this project a fitting legacy,” the two groups said in a joint release. 

“We are grateful to the Pawley family and the many people who contributed. The Sunshine Coast Credit Union helped with a generous donation that added many more panels to the size of array.”

The solar panels have been up and running since March, saving money for the seniors centre. The unveiling event will take place over Zoom at 2 p.m. If you would like to attend virtually, please contact the solar association at suncoastcsa@gmail.com to get the Zoom code. 

A monitor has been set up in the lobby so the public will be able to see how the solar panels function in real time once the seniors centre is able to reopen.

“This is a legacy that will keep on giving year after year in reducing the activity centre’s substantial hydro electricity bills,” the release said. “They hope this will also provide incentive for Sechelt residents to consider installing their own solar panels or contributing to further the SSAC array.”