THE DAY finally arrived for the official ribbon cutting for the new elevator at the Happy Gang Centre after a long fundraising journey.
Susan Broughton, who's overseen the project from the beginning, thanked Bill McRae for all his help and support and contractor Betty Barton for all her work and putting up with lots of questions.
Barb Nelson, the president of the BC Old Age Pensioners Organization Branch 73, which kicked off the fundraising when the membership voted to put $45,000 toward the project and Marg Ramage, who is the treasurer of the Happy Gang Centre, received flowers as did Barton.
Broughton thanked all the groups and individuals who donated money for the renovation project.
It was decided that taking the steep stairs down to the basement wasn't easy for many seniors, which was a problem because the annual bazaar is held down there and the space for carpet bowling and floor curling – both of which were included in the renovation project as the areas they were played on were wearing down or unsafe – took place downstairs there too.
Fundraising began last November and continued with several groups and individuals giving money to the centre for the elevator construction and the floor renovation downstairs.
The centre is important as it provides a place for seniors to come together and visit and gets them out of the house, Broughton said to the crowded room at Happy Gang Centre June 29.
“Without this centre, we would be sitting at home looking at the walls,” she said, adding that people get a lot out of the centre physically and mentally.
“...so it's saving the health care system a lot,” Broughton added.
Barton gave Broughton a photo book with pictures in it from the first day of the renovation project up to when the elevator was inspected recently.
McRae had the honour of cutting the red ribbon on the elevator.
Several people took a ride down to the basement and back upstairs again in the elevator.
Broughton said there was a little of the $101,313 raised left over, which will go to maintenance for the elevator.