The Westlock and District Community Hall is undergoing some much-needed upgrades.
A recently elected board is undertaking the work in hopes of bringing new life to the aging hall.
Recently-elected hall president Dwight Brown said the facility is benefitting from a board with high energy.
“We have fresh ideas, information, contacts, and energy,” Brown said. “This energy is shown as 22 people spent an evening to steam-clean chairs, tighten hardware, patch marks on lower walls and repair floor tiles.”
Since the first work-bee the group has held a couple more as close to 100 in-kind hours have already been donated towards the hall.
Brown said the board is also looking to apply for grant funding to help with the ongoing repairs.
“We have located five grants that the board feels the hall should qualify for funds to help with the upgrades to the facility,” Brown said.
“Currently we are gathering quotes for things like lighting upgrades for high efficiency lights, repairing door weather strips, hinges that are showing wear and maintaining safety and kitchen equipment.”
Brown said the board has been pleased with the community support behind the project, aimed at bringing the community hall up to a higher standard.
“We’re trying to get it up to shape, there are some tired parts that are probably 25 years old,” he said. “It’s an awesome facility, something the community should be proud of.”
A website has been created for the hall, complete with an up-to-date calendar that shows current bookings.
Brown said anyone looking to rent the facility can check the calendar to browse available dates.
Going forward, the board would like to make the hall a viable facility by increasing demand for facility rentals.
“We would like to create an atmosphere and a facility that people are lined up to rent, making the hall self-sustaining,” Brown said.
Next up, the board would like to hire a facility coordinator. Brown said more information will soon be posted to the hall’s website, www.westlockanddistrictcommunityhall.com.
