The Golden Civic Centre took a big step towards getting a kitchen when the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) added the final piece of the financial pie.
Previously the project was given a grant from the Columbia Basin Trust.
Recently the Town of Golden Council put forward a request for to the Area A Director to help get the additional $60,000 from the Economic Opportunities Fund (EOF).
At the Jan. 17 meeting the CSRD, with the concurrence of the Town of Golden and the Electoral Area ‘A’ Director, the board approved funding from the Golden and Area ‘A’ Economic Opportunity Fund to the Town of Golden in an amount up to $60,000 for the Golden Civic Centre Kitchen Project.
Garry Habart is the Area ‘A’ representative at the CSRD.
“Golden felt this was a good idea and we just supported them,” he said. “This funding came through the payment in lieu of taxes through BC Hydro to all areas. It is payment to the area for the effect the hydro dam has had on the area.”
Habart added he hoped this would be an economic benefit for Golden.
“It should be a pretty nice kitchen. Personally we are hoping that by having the kitchen there they can bring in more revenue to the town. By being able to sponsor more events I would imagine it would help out the town. If we have people coming to town it helps out our area.”
Mayor of the Town of Golden, Christina Benty, also sees the new kitchen as added value to an already successful facility.
“It is absolutely fantastic. We are thrilled that the funding has come through and we are looking forward to seeing that project completed for the community,” she said. “This was the final piece of the puzzle left unfunded.
“It is going to benefit not only caterers with kitchen facilities, but also caterers without kitchen facilities. What it will do is to continue to expand as an economic driver in the community because the more events you can host there and the more capacity you have, the better it is going to be.”
Habart also said that the project has been a long one, but time was needed to make the right decision.
“People in our area work there as well. I am not too involved in the Civic Centre. There are pros and cons and not everybody loves the Civic Centre, but a lot of people do. It is a kind of a balance we are trying to work out,” he said.
Director of Kicking Horse Culture, Bill Usher, was happy to see the final step to completing the kitchen completed.
“The area where the kitchen was is waiting to be developed,” he said. “Now with this final vote by the CSRD we will figure out a way to move forward.”
He also added a thank you for the final funding.
“Kudos to the mayor and the regional directors for leading this through to finally having an agreement,” he said.
