Community Resource Centre opens new building in Killaloe
Posted By Tony Pearson - Special to This Week
Posted 6 months ago
There's a new community facility in Killaloe, and it's starting to fill.
Last year, the Community Resource Centre, or CRC, purchased the building on North Street that used to house the Sunshine Cafe. The CRC, whose mandate is to provide social services in support of children and families, needed more space, especially for its youth programming. Moreover, as a result of a CRC survey of community needs sponsored by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, they discovered a gap in local programming – namely, a scarcity of programs for 6- to 12-year-olds.
Fittingly then, the first program off the mark was a karate instruction program aimed at both kids in the target age bracket, and their parents. Every second week, about three dozen young people crowd the new centre to receive instruction from black belts Chris and Ann Smerdon, who run a dojo (karate school) in Beachburg. Demand has been so great that there are now two classes, one just for youngsters, and one for families, where about a dozen adults join in the training.
Another program just launched is a knitting group led by CRC board member Lesley MacDonald. And soon, the Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living (MVACL) will start a weekly reading program for developmentally delayed clients, who will partner with volunteers to improve their literacy skills. The MVACL clients will also acquire work experience by helping out at Buried Treasure, which has moved from Lake Street to the new site. Buried Treasure is a long-established CRC resource, where people can purchase "gently-used" clothing at very low prices, as well as pick up second-hand books and toys.
In keeping with its fitness promotion goals, the CRC has purchased exercise equipment, including a weight training machine, a treadmill, and a cross-country simulator. With this and other equipment, it plans to open a community fitness centre early in March. This will give people who need to increase the amount that they exercise, an all-season indoor location in which to work out.
Other plans include dancing instruction, Tai Chi, and yoga classes. A workshop in community theatre has also been booked for March, and community arts and crafts programs are scheduled for this summer. In addition, the CRC will be organizing economic coping seminars, aimed at showing people how to stretch their dollars and cut their household expenses, with topics such as increasing your household's energy efficiency.
"Essentially, this is a community resource," says CRC staffer Karen Dupuis. "We therefore invite people to make suggestions to us on how the new 12 North site can be used to provide more community programs aimed at strengthening children's and families' lifestyles. Bring your ideas right to the CRC; we see this as a fantastic opportunity for all."
