Instead of purchasing the Kinsmen Building next to the post office on Broadway, the organizations planning to collaborate on its occupancy have approached the Village with an application to lease it instead. This makes more sense for them for now with the long term goal to possibly purchase it eventually. The organizations involved have shifted somewhat; Sufferfest won’t be part of the project but the Nakusp Youth Centre, Options for Sexual Health (Opt), and the Arrow Lakes Arts Council are still in.
Teresa Weatherhead, spokesperson for Opt, said “We are really looking forward to getting this underway and opening it up to the public. The project has gone really well and I would like to stress that the Village of Nakusp has been hugely cooperative with us. ”
Funding to refurbish the interior and pay ongoing operating expenses will come from grant money accessible by each of the different organizations. The interior on the main floor is getting a little bit of a facelift with some cabinetry removal and paint, as well as a few minor things to satisfy building codes. Downstairs is a different story. The youth centre will be occupying that space and the entire space is set for renovation. There will be two washrooms, a large open area, and office and storage. The structure of the building, electrical and plumbing and are all in great shape. Changes will be mostly aesthetic.
The groups have come together to maximize their budgets and pool resources, calling the building the Kinship Connection Centre.
Cassia Parent, the Youth Coordinator of the Nakusp Youth Centre said, “There’s the fact that it will make us financially more stable and give us a long term home that won’t kill all of our funding. We will be sharing a space with other community social service organizations, making networking and resource development easier and more efficient. Plus the awesome fact that we are collaborating with the Village by using their current assets and infrastructure to build sustainable access to services that are needed in Nakusp and area.”
The Options for Sexual Health organization expects to sign the lease prior to February 1.
