The forms and footings are in and cement for the foundation for the front of the building could be poured any day. The interior has been gutted where the renovations will take place. And while the auditorium remains open, the popular kitchen at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre remains closed.
A nearly $1-million expansion project has been underway since June and in the works for two years to accommodate the centre’s growing membership, and on July 10, the centre came closer to its fundraising goal because of a $100,000 donation by the Clayton family.
“This is the biggest one that we’ve probably ever made,” said Neil Clayton, manager of Claytons Heritage Market.
Clayton said he was prompted by a golfing friend to make a contribution to the building fund, because of the range of services the centre offers to seniors in the area. “It’s something that will last for years and years in the community and we wanted to get behind it,” he said. The family receives weekly requests for funding but rarely at this scale. “The seniors don’t ask us for very much throughout the year and we sort of thought there’s some IOUs piling up a little bit,” he said.
Despite the large donation, the centre is still hunting down more funds to pay for the expansion project. “We’re hoping to come out of this project in October, open up and be running without a mortgage,” said Charlie Jensen, the centre’s president.
“Right now we have used our contingency fund, which was about $400,000,” Jensen said. The centre needs to raise $400,000 on top of the Claytons’ donation to avoid using the construction mortgage, which they took out with the Sunshine Coast Credit Union.
The centre has applied for several grants and has received one from the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, as well as an anonymous donation of $100,000. They have also set up a pledge letter, which they will distribute to their 1,200-strong membership as well as businesses and organizations on the Coast.
The renovations will expand the 25-year-old building by 124.5 sq. metres (1340 sq. feet), which will include the construction of a dedicated dining room, more activity and administration space and a larger kitchen for the centre’s popular lunch and meal delivery program. “A lot of our seniors now, they rely on our frozen entrees and our lunch program,” Jensen said.
“My heart is really saying that the people of the Sunshine Coast and this area really appreciate what this centre provides to the seniors in this community.”
Jensen said the project is on schedule to be completed by mid-October.
