Fundraising co-chairs Joanne and Kent Smith address Tuesday's annual general meeting of the Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society, announcing a $6-million capital fundraising campaign kicking off toward needed renovations at the local facility.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The full scope of major renovations at the Medicine Hat women’s shelter was unveiled Tuesday night as a capital campaign to pay for most of the near $8-million project was kicked off.
The current facility opened in 1998, and with no more space added since then, capacity has grown from 11 beds to 30 over 25 years, attendees to the group’s annual general meeting were told.
Now, the entire building is in need of substantial renovations and new space is needed to bring the current daycare out of the basement, consolidate its outreach activities and provide safe, modern space for those seeking help.
At this point, reserves and grants are earmarked to cover about one quarter of the cost, while a fundraising campaign will attempt to bring in $6 million over the next two years to get construction underway.
“Our board has been incredibly financially responsible over the years, and we have a lot of faith in the community,” said Jen Kerslake, the president of the society’s board. “Over the years we’ve expanded (our capacity) without a single renovation, and now we’re in a position where we’re overdue.”
Fundraising chairs Joanne and Kent Smith told the audience they were drawn to the project and felt a responsibility to get involved.
A strong community response will be needed to meet the target, said Joanne Smith, who is also a regular board member.
“For ourselves, we see helping not as an option, but a requirement,” she told 100 attendees to Tuesday’s event, which was also the group’s annual general meeting, at the Esplanade Studio Theatre.
Initial drawings were presented by the local office of architectural firm FWBA.
They show that a daycare would be moved from the basement into new space and current rooms would be redone as office space to bring administrators to the location from space they currently rent off site.
A fire sprinkler system would be added (there is none currently), as would a security system, along with accessibility features and general improvements that have been lacking over the years.
New rooms in the expansion would still be able to accommodate 30 clients. The shelter also provides townhouse units off site to clients.
Earlier this year, the governments of Canada and Alberta provided a $336,300 grant toward the project from the National Housing Strategy and provincial Capital Maintenance and Renewal programs. Hardware retailer Rona has also put in $50,000 from its charitable foundation.
