Over in Highlands, the heritage buildings at the Caleb Pike Heritage Park have been around for more than one pandemic.

Like the buildings they preserve, the Highland Heritage Park Society is still standing strong even with the challenges this past year presented.

Sally Gose, the societyB次元官网网址檚 chair, said it has been a quiet year at the park, with many of the meetings and events housed in the Caleb Pike House, or the restored Little Red Schoolhouse, or the old dairy building, the Gregory House, cancelled.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e definitely had the support of the district, but itB次元官网网址檚 been quieter and people are missing it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of the hubs up here in the highlands, and itB次元官网网址檚 really sad.B次元官网网址�

The buildings, which are already small spaces B次元官网网址� making social distancing difficult B次元官网网址� were closed for much of the year.

Some volunteers with the society made the most of the quieter times, working on some much-needed projects like shovelling a gravel bank to support one of the buildings and improve the drainage.

The society faced some lean times during the pandemic, Gose said, but with support from the Highlands council, plus some experienced veterans in the society, they were able to pull through.

B次元官网网址淭hey are used to running on a shoestring and that is what we do. So we require very little funds to keep going and we just keep chugging along.B次元官网网址�

The society also received a financial boost when Gemstone Pictures Inc. filmed the Landry series based on the books by VC Andrews at the site, just before the pandemic began.

Many of the societyB次元官网网址檚 events were cancelled, like the upcoming winter craft fair, which Gose said sadly didnB次元官网网址檛 make sense with how the Covid picture was looking.

Some events were able to take place outside in the parkB次元官网网址檚 orchards and the highlands fling was a highlight of the year, with around 200 people gathering for some music, dancing and food.

B次元官网网址淓ven though it was rainy, the feeling was so good,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e had like less than 200. So it wasnB次元官网网址檛 overwhelmed with people, but people were so engaged and just enjoying it so much.B次元官网网址�

Gose said planning for the future is tricky for a lot of organizations, but said being flexible is key.

B次元官网网址淲e have a contingency for everything and any rentals weB次元官网网址檝e had are all conditional on public health orders,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淪o I think itB次元官网网址檚 really kind of taking it one step at a time and trying to take advantage of what we can offer our community without going against public health orders.B次元官网网址�

ALSO READ: Highlands twists its fling with summer treats, communty call outs

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