A Nanaimo church pastor is tossing up a Hail Mary in the hopes of halting demolition work on the old Harewood Elementary School.
John Blain, Nanaimo school district superintendent, said a contractor has been hired for the demolition and is on site. Lisa Wengel, pastor of Compass Church Nanaimo, is praying that a deal can be worked out to see a number of the church’s ministries housed there.
The church was scheduled to make a presentation to the school district business committee Wednesday night.
“It’s something that, when we planted this church five years ago, we had in mind that it would be a fantastic centre to be used for all kinds of ministries in partnership with other churches and such,” said Wengel.
Programs like the church’s Adopt a Block could use more space. The program sees volunteers finding areas where there might be need and food is brought to needy families.
“We don’t have anywhere that we have been able to find to rent space throughout the week,” said Wengel. “We’d like to expand [this] and we’d like to partner with other churches and other not-for-profits that also run things. Like for instance, Loaves and Fishes is also very interested in sharing this usage of this building with us.”
Blain said the decision to demolish the building could still be reversed. The board could have input toward that, if it decided to change course, he said. There also could be penalties and stipends associated with the contract.
However, Blain said there are a number of issues with the Harewood school, which was closed in 2004.
“It’s an old building,” said Blain. “The roof is caving in, there’s leaking inside. The people will present what they think about it and the school district has been under a position that we’re looking at we’re moving forward with the property and unfortunately, that building has outlived its life.”
Wengel said she hopes the school district will turn the building over to the church, and it will assume responsibility for renovations.
