After months of non-stop renovation, Victoria Cool Aid SocietyB次元官网网址檚 downtown community centre is nearly done and dusted.
HeroWork revealed the new and improved community centre on Nov. 12, with work on renovations beginning in late August.
B次元官网网址淲e had the tiniest kitchen you could imagine before, it was like the size of a closet. So when we were doing any kind of community kitchen program, we basically had to shut the rest of the centre down,B次元官网网址� Victoria Cool Aid Society chief executive officer Kathy Stinson told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淣ow we have this amazing kitchen where we can do some great things, and things can still happen in other parts of the building at the same time.B次元官网网址�
Stinson added that Cool Aid staff will be able to double their services and triple their programming in a space thatB次元官网网址檚 not only more efficient, but esthetically pleasing. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to serve more people and do more things,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the biggest impact.B次元官网网址�
The outdated community centre served approximately 6,000 people across Greater Victoria each year. After the renovation valued at $700,000, Victoria Cool Aid Society says it will be able to reach about 12,000 people from vulnerable communities annually.
Paul Latour, HeroWork founder, says the impact of the community centreB次元官网网址檚 transformation will go beyond the physical space it provides.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about servicing the people who come here better. ItB次元官网网址檚 about making it more accessible, having them feel better about themselves as they walk into this space and having a good space for staff to work in that isnB次元官网网址檛 a closet,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he impact ripples out into the community, and this isnB次元官网网址檛 just a one-off. WeB次元官网网址檝e looked at 13 different projects and measured what those different impacts were, and we see this impact across the board when you renew charity infrastructure. And thatB次元官网网址檚 a key piece because B次元官网网址� outside of housing B次元官网网址� the government doesnB次元官网网址檛 actually recognize charity space as community infrastructure.B次元官网网址�
New elements added to the community centre include an expanded community kitchen, re-envisioned floor layout, new multi-purpose space, gender-neutral washrooms, exterior gathering space and more.
The revamped community centre located on Pandora Street reopens its doors and resumes programming on Dec. 5.
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