A major step forward for Woodstock senior centre addition

25 Apr A major step forward for Woodstock senior centre addition

By Lee Griffi

The fundraising campaign for the expansion of Woodstock’s South Gate Centre has surpassed its goal of $1.2 million.

Fundraising chair David Hilderly said as a result things are now happening quickly. “Tenders went out on April 4 and are due by May 2. We hope to take this forward to council on May 16 when a general contractor will be awarded the tender. The expectation is they will be able to have shovels in the ground by July 1 or thereabouts.”

On April 11, twenty companies looking to submit a bid completed a mandatory walk-through of the facility. Two of the interested contractors are local.

The $1.2 million was the campaign’s obligation to the city and there is an estimate for another $500,000 to pay for furnishings and other costs. Despite reaching the goal Hilderly and his team are pursuing additional donors. “What comes with this whole thing is our business model runs on our kitchen and catering facilities. If you or anyone you know want to do a wedding or celebration of life or any kind of banquet, that’s how we generate our money to pay the bills. We need tables, chairs, and lounge furniture.”

The new building is being billed as a win for members and non-members alike. “There will be three halls with collapsable walls and if they are all opened up it will hold 400 people for an event like a tradeshow, or anything else the community needs or wants.

In addition to that we have a very nice lounge area where the seniors will be able to socialize. Socialization is such an important part of what we do at South Gate Centre and how we keep members engaged,” added Hilderly. “The senior population is growing and growing and we need to provide them with opportunities.”

Once completed the new building will allow the centre to offer much more in the way of programming. “Right from fitness and yoga all the way up to Zumba classes and whatever else might fit into that hall. We will also have a wellness room which will be used for both physical and mental well-being,” he explained.

The expansion will include a community kitchen that could be used by outside groups in need of space. “If an organization like the Caribbean Association would approach us and they want to have a hall but also want to prepare their own food they would have his lovely new kitchen. There are a lot of chefs in the area who do catering but they don’t have their own commercial kitchen. We will have an available spot for them to rent and prepare meals.”

The dream of an expansion at South Gate was first introduced nearly ten years ago. Hilderly said it’s an incredible feeling to see it so close to becoming a reality. “I’m so excited now that we are actually in the process. It’s been nine years but I can see now things are moving forward. Our community has been waiting and I think this will be a good trigger for more donations.”

The hall, workshop, and one of the boardrooms in the current space will stay intact and a small section will be repurposed during the construction.

South Gate Centre has over 800 members and engages the 50-plus community in an open, active, social environment driven by volunteers.