The Duane Lowe Community Centre has seen significant use since it was opened last June. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Doug Lett

Birch Hills Community Centre

Community centre in Birch Hills well utilized

Mar 16, 2023 | 8:00 AM

The Mayor of Birch Hills said it’s been good to see the new community centre up and running.

The Duane Lowe Community Centre was officially opened last June.

“It’s been a benefit to the community and the use of it has been good to see,” Mayor Stewart Adams said.

The centre houses the library, along with a meeting room that can handle up to 90 people with a kitchen attached, and boardrooms for smaller groups.

Adams said the local seniors group meets there up to three times a week, and the new facility has been a big help.

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“It’s been good post-pandemic to get people out and socializing,” he said. “Mental health issues can be directly related to a lack of socialization in a community, and getting seniors out and mingling and meeting and visiting with each other is positive.”

In addition, he said relocating the library to the building has been a boost.

“It’s seen a dramatic increase in use since it moved,” he added.

The centre was a dream that took a number of years to realize. Adams said it was around seven years from conception to completion, and the cost was around $525,000.

It started because the building being used by the seniors club was getting too old, and required significant repairs.

The town bought a former co-op grocery store, and work began on extensive renovations.

“There was significant volunteer help in organizing and cleaning out the old building,” he said, along with significant fundraising by the community.

He said there is a still a small amount of work to completely finish the building.

“We’re just putting finishing touches on it right now,” he said.