The Melfort Kinsmen and Kinettes will occupy the former Melfort Chamber of Commerce building at Spruce Haven. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Melfort Kin Lodge

Melfort Kin groups moving into former Chamber building

Jun 24, 2020 | 12:11 PM

The Melfort Kin groups now have a place to call their own.

The former Melfort Chamber of Commerce building at Spruce Haven Park will house both the Kinsmen and Kinette groups in the community.

Incoming Kinsmen President Aaron Skifftun said this is something the two groups have wanted for many years.

“We needed a place to call home, a place to set up our memorabilia and display our history and to simply have a place for when you join and have discussions,” Skifftun said.

The Kinsmen previously held meetings in the Melfort Ag Society building while the Kinettes would meet in the Melfort Legion.

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Along with using the building for meetings and kin events, eventually the public and other groups would be able to rent it out as well.

The building that sits on the corner of Shadd Drive and Spruce Haven Road has been sitting empty since 2018. Executive Director Nicole Gagne resigned after seven years in the position in February 2018.

The building was put up for auction in August 2018 but was eventually sold to the City of Melfort.

City representatives wanted a community-minded group to occupy the building according to Skifftun.

“We fit that need to them and hopefully in the future we can have the space available for the community to use as well,” Skifftun said.

Many renovations and upgrades will need to be made before the doors on the building will reopen.

With the two groups being able to use the space, it is a win-win for everyone.

“Especially with the development at Spruce Haven, we are coming along as a city and so every little bit helps,” Skifftun said.

The Kinsmen were able to have their final meeting of the year on the deck on June 18.

“It was nice to be in there and have the members realize that the goal that we have been working towards is exactly what it is, it is a home and a place to call their own,” Skifftun said. “It definitely gave everyone a sense of being and a place they’re excited to call the Melfort Kin Lodge.”

All meetings up to that point have been held over Zoom since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province in mid-March.

Skifftun said the groups are ready and excited for the next kin year which will resume in the fall.

The groups are continually open to welcoming new members and encourage anyone that might be interested in hearing about Kin and what they do, to get in touch with any member in the community.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@Angie_Rolheiser