The Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre at Ruby Lake Lagoon opened its doors to the community July 28 after five months of construction.
The centre will combine art, culture and science in displays and exhibits celebrating the Coast's natural history, in memory of local naturalist Iris Griffith.
"We really want to be able to tell stories," Michael Jackson, chair of the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society told the crowd of 100 people at the opening ceremony.
Other speakers included Sechelt Indian Band Chief Stan Dixon, Sunshine Coast MP John Reynolds, Green Party leader Adriane Carr, Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk, Community Futures' Marie Gallant, Sunshine Coast Regional District chair Ed Steeves, SCRD director for Pender Harbour and Egmont John Rees and the Vancouver Foundation's Mark Gifford.
SIB elders who were to perform a blessing ceremony could not attend because they were attending a funeral for a relative of the band members, Dixon said. He thanked the people involved in the project for having the vision to get the centre done. "We are very appreciative that something like this has happened," Dixon said.
Reynolds called the site "spectacular." He commended the vision of the Ruby Lake Resort owners, the Cogrossi family, who donated the land for the centre.
Carr said the centre is an example of what people with a vision can do when they work with the community. She called the green building a model of sustainability.
Gallant read a letter from Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper congratulating the society for the opening. The federal government provided funding through its Softwood Industry Com-munity Economic Adjustment Initiative.
The SCRD also supported the project.
"This is a very important addition to this community," Rees said.
"We wish you all success in the future," Steeves added.
Janyk called Iris Griffith a "tower of strength."
Gifford said the Vancouver Foundation supports projects that come up with "gems" like this one.
Paulo, Michael and Antonio Cogrossi untied the ribbon at the centre's entrance, then the crowd streamed inside. The Pender Harbour and District Wildlife Society unveiled a topographical model of the Sakinaw watershed. Also inside were a children's play area and educational displays. Anne Clemence, former president of the wildlife society, said the opening of the building is just the start. The observatory tower, field studies centre building and retail space are still to be completed.
John Dafoe of the wildlife society designed the building and said the observatory tower is on the drawing board. They are celebrating every step of the way towards final completion of the site.
West Coast Log Homes built part of the building, and local contractors built the rest.
The lagoon society's Suzan Essiembre said the project budget to date is roughly half a million dollars; upon final completion it will be a million dollar building.
Organizations, businesses and individuals chipped in to make the lagoon society's dream a reality and to honour Griffith's legacy.
