Community Halls

[coppertop]

Don't know what is happening in other areas, but our community organizations are really struggling to keep their halls operating.
The county gives each community organization operating funds, but with the high cost of utilities that doesn't go far.
Some of the newer halls are rented on almost every weekend which enables them to keep their head above water, but others that are smaller and older are really having difficulty.
I imagine it is a province wide issue, but would like to hear from others about how their areas are managing to keep some sort of community facility operational.

[wilagro]

One of our community halls depends on periodic "fund raisers" just to pay the utilities, especially the power bill which has doubled. Maybe you could talk to "Ed" and re-instate REGULATION and correction of the electicity "mess" that was created by Ralph's stupid government and his oh too willing servant, Steve West when he was in government.

We used to have phones in these halls too, but they are silenced now. Can't afford luxuries like that. There is no maintenance fund either, so when these structures become unuseable I hope we don't have to lock the doors and walk away.

[grassfarmer]

Maybe you could organise a local community fundraiser, call it a "celebration of the Alberta Advantage"? I'm sure all the adoring peasants would come out to celebrate the re-election of the red-neck dictatorship and it's wealth creating properties. Oh no .... wait a minute, if the "Alberta advantage" actually existed the local halls and communities wouldn't be dying out. Truth is the "Alberta Advantage" is lining the pockets of foreign owned corporations, not the residents of this Province.

[coppertop]

Many of the community halls in my area were built by volunteer labour long before there were any government grants available.
Newer, larger halls that were built with a lot of grant funds are the ones that are rented out more than the older, smaller halls.
I agree that the high cost of utilities is a huge challenge for communities but I also think that the community has to see value in their facilities, if the very people who live in the vicinty don't really give a damn about their halls viability, why should the rest of the provincial taxpayers care ?????
Many of the local community halls don't have the volunteer base to fund raise even if someone came up with a brilliant fundraising idea. In fact, some of the volunteers are in their 70's and can be counted on to bake pies, peel potatoes, or whatever else needs doing....while many of the younger folks don't seem to be able to find the time.
I can't remember when any of our local halls held a supper and dance....which used to be a regular event in every country hall.

[cakadu]

There are probably a couple of reasons younger folks don't get too involved. I know that many of the "old dependables" at the hall are often those who don't want to see things being done differently, which makes for some challenges. Younger folks aren't necessarily interested in the old time country dances, which is a shame as they used to be fun.

We've lost the sense of community that we once had and we may never get it back.

Many of the halls were built with ag society money - back when that was being given away - and there was nothing left for maintenance etc.

Like everything else, we can't go back, no matter how much we wish we could.

[per]

Transportation helped kill the local hall. I realize how fortunate the people here are as we have 2 larger communities within a 15 minute drive. Each has a large jointly MD and Town funded hall and I can think of 3 churches that have 400 to 700 seat sanctuaries that are also used as halls. You made me think of our little community halls. They were only ten or so miles apart and of the 5 that I can think of 3 have been sold and the other 2 are in negotiations as to where the next big hall will be. All 5 are going to pool resources to build one big one.

[coppertop]

Two halls in our community have been given a stop order to rent the facility until they get either structural issues dealt with or in one case the water well tests showed it unsafe .
One hall had to get their potable water trucked in so they could honor existing hall rentals.
The county has helped with emergency funding, but only after being provided with up to date financial statements from the community organization, and sad to say this information is sometimes lacking when grants are applied for, mainly due to those folks to volunteer to sit on community associations not being aware of the external obligations of their positions.
I do agree that some of the older reliable folks hate to see change. I got involved as area councillor in one community organization where the new members were literally trying to oust one family that had kept the hall and community going for forty years.
I was asked to chair a community meeting because the community association president had no experience in keeping folks 'in line' and was literally having shouting matches during meetings from opposing opinions in the community.
My advice to the enthusiastic new folks was to respect the work done by the 'pioneer members' and ensure they were listened to and come to compromises where possible....because to offend those folks may very well mean a backlash against the community association.
The new members tried to get the older ones onside prior to doing a major hall reno project...but unfortunately after the hall was renovated it was learned that the underpinnings of the hall weren't solid, which is exactly what the older members tried to tell the new ones....now the end result is that neither group is involved in the hall organization , and the hall is seldom rented, so keeping the bils paid is becoming a problem, much less having any funds to bring the hall up to acceptable standards if and when there becomes a safety issue.
One reason the sense of community isn't as strong as it was years ago is because our rural communities aren't farming communities anymore, many of the residents are urban minded folks woh move to an acreage to enjoy the country life but their recreation/social life is still based on facilities in the urban centres.

[coppertop]

per, we have some very quaint little halls that have been renovated in this area, and they are rented for small gatherings, meetings etc., but as with anything these days, driving distance factors into the equation, so the more remote the hall from the urban centres, the less it is utilized.
It is sad to see the little halls go, but once the actual building starts to deteriorate, along with the local interest in the facility, it's only a matter of time until the old land marks are gone.

[tower]

There are all kinds of problems. In our area for quite a while it was declining population as farms were sold out and people moved away to be replaced by larger farms. That kind of leveled off though and there are moe people moving into acreages, quarter sections so that there is more opportunity for community again.

There aren't the common concerns that there were when almost everyone was farming, so people don't see relating to the newcomers as easily as used to be. With concerns about food safety and security getting more important though to people leaving the fast food restaurants and supermarkets behind, and increasing costs of driving to larger centres for that kind of thing and entertainment, I think there is a real opportunity to keep the old halls viable.

We recently had to rebuild a section of our floor because the original crawlspace didn't have enough ventilation. It can be done if the support for the centre can be mobilized. A lot of the memories that are inherent in the building can be used to give it a kick start.

[coppertop]

tower, I think you touched on an issue that we all must take responsibility for. 35 years ago when we bought our farm and moved to the community, neighbours dropped by to welcome us, brought cakes, pies etc., and made us feel like part of the community.
Perhaps we all need to be more' welcoming' of new folks in our community, invite them to attend a hall committee meeting, and make sure they feel a part of things if they do show up.
My dear old Dad used to say 'if we want a hall built, Christmas Concert for the kids, etc.,, WE have to do it it isn't right to wait for someone else to do things because We are the community'.

[tower]

I think that is true coppertop, and it's not always easy. It seems like there can be a sense of frustration and it gets bound up with the sense of obligation, sometimes it's hard to get motivated. I think the big thing is that the hall is simply a tool to community and the latter is the important thing.

[coppertop]

It is a meeting place for the community, for special events, funerals etc., and for that reason, there are always some devoted members of every community that work tirelessly to keep the hall functioning.
Many of the older, smaller halls don't have kitchen facilities that meet the new legislation for food service, which means they aren't rented for major events.
Our county rents community halls for various open houses, ASB seminars etc., if the event is only a few hours, then the older halls will suffice, coffee and donuts don't take up much kitchen space, and aren' prepared on site.
In fact, our county has a policy which allows each councillor to hold two meetings in each community hall in their respective division annually, with the county picking up the rent. Many of the communities have been willing to dontate the facility rental, but we as a council felt it only right that they receive the regular rental for those meetings, as they aren't regular community association business meetings.

[tower]

I think that is a good idea coppertop, for one thing it will show new people in the neighbourhood that the old hall has some things happening, a place for commuity concerns to be voiced, issues to be addressed, and an avenue to the larger community, with others having similar experience.

I haven't heard of a program in this area like that but I think I will suggest it. Thanks, tower