COCHRANE - Tyler Beaton dreams of a space to offer more cultural programming.
At the Oct. 8 Cochrane council meeting, the Ininew Friendship Centre executive director asked the town to donate two lots on Drury Park Road to build a new facility.
No decision was made at the meeting and town staff are now creating a report on the item.
“Our building’s infrastructure is no longer sustainable and requires significant investment just to maintain,” Beaton said.
The friendship centre was established in 1974. The building it’s located at – 190 3rd Ave. – was built in 1930. If the town donates the plots of land, the new facility will be situated directly beside the Polar Bear Habitat, about 1.8 kilometres from the existing location.
Some of the key issues with the current building include a failing roof and sewage backflow problems, which are difficult to address as a non-profit, Beaton said.
“The physical brick-and-mortar infrastructure is no longer sustainable. We need significant capital just to maintain the status quo, let alone expand our programming,” he said.
Mayor Peter Politis told TimminsToday he supports the friendship centre’s mission.
“The friendship centre provides for a need in the community, allowing participation in Indigenous culture, which is key to who we are. It fosters diversity and strengthens community ties, making our town more attractive to new residents,” he said.
Collaborating to facilitate the move is a “no-brainer,” Politis said.
“I won't speak on council’s behalf, quite frankly, but my general sense is that, barring anything surprising that comes up, we can make this happen,” he said.
The centre is currently seeking 100 per cent funding through the Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program, Beaton said.
A new facility would not only consolidate services in one central location but also create space for expanded programming, Beaton said. He envisions a space that would allow for greater community engagement, more parking and room for growth over the next 10 to 20 years.
“We think that this would be a phenomenal area for us. Not only does it back onto the land so we can incorporate all of our cultural ground activities and teachings and ceremony right on site, it's also directly across the street from the lake, which would allow us to be able to bring youth out on the lake,” he said.
“Allowing us the space to build something like this would mean you are guaranteeing programming for years to come.”
The friendship centre offers 27 social service programs that meet urgent community needs, Beaton said. With nearly 40 full-time employees, the centre impacts the lives of 450 to 520 individuals each year through its Reaching Home program alone, he said.
