The old Irvines Landing schoolhouse was packed to the rafters last Saturday as the community turned out for the building’s official re-opening as Sarah Wray Heritage Hall.
More than a decade of volunteer work and fundraising went into restoring the vintage 1930 building, Elaine Park, president of the Pender Harbor Living Heritage Society, said during a presentation that paid tribute to board members, volunteers and alumni on Feb. 28.
“It’s such a pleasure and a joy for the volunteer team to be able to throw the doors open today and say, ‘Come on in and see what’s been achieved,’” Park said.
Surrounded by heritage displays, Park singled out project leader Len Lee, calling him “a pillar of strength,” and senior Muriel Cameron, who attended the school’s first class in September 1931.
Alumnus Bob Fielding was also singled out for his company’s donation of $40,000 to secure a 20-year lease from School District No. 46.
The timing was critical, Park said, as the building was one winter away from being unsalvageable.
The reconstruction itself cost about $100,000, with the federal government funding half, matching contributions from the community and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
“A lot of people worked hard on this,” Fielding told Coast Reporter. “They have no relationship with the school, but they did it because of the community. It’s wonderful.”
The restored building features high-efficiency windows that resemble the originals, new insulation and heat pumps, and the original wood floor, milled in the area and laid by community volunteers. A lean-to roof attached to the building was converted into a side room now designated as a boat-building area.
The hall has already been used for community functions and classes, and Park described it as “a multi-purpose space for the community to use as the community sees fit.”
The heritage society is also in the process of negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the SCRD so that it can create a network of walking trails connecting to Hotel Lake. Eventually, Park said, the group would like to build a variety of boats and offer classes in sailing techniques and boat management for fresh and salt water.
Egmont/Pender Harbour SCRD director Frank Mauro said the hall fills a longstanding need in the community.
“Pender Harbour is really spread out and residents on this side have had to travel a considerable distance to access one of the other halls or facilities, so this is a major benefit to this side,” Mauro said.
“This is really what we envisioned with the parks and recreation master plan — that community groups would take stewardship of park areas and improve and integrate them, with the SCRD being the facilitator instead of the actual doer.”
It was Fielding’s idea to rename the building after Sarah Wray, who was born in 1897, making her the first person of European heritage born in Pender Harbour.
Fielding said the gesture was to honour his friend, the late Ted Lee, who “wanted something named in honour of the Wray family.”
