The Brussels Post, 1977-11-23, Page 15INCHING UPWARO Donations' for the brussels
orgS and Orey tbhirriutiity •Gehtre Fund are sfill
resin Here Bruce .Arehttith-g paltitb in the
which indioat:e5 that the fuhd has
Moved welt past. the. -$150000 t ark.
(16(16 -61 Nov. , %tn.
CONGRATULATIONS
and
THANKS
On behalf of the citizens of Brussels, Grey and
Morris, we extend congratulations and say thanks
to those who provided the leadership, those who
served on committees, who did the planning and
checked the details to make possible the completion
of the new Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre.
They have spent countless hours and have overcome
problei:os Qnd frustrations tn.,Orirfgin-p the Project to
a successful conclusion. We say thanks, but their
real thanks will be the enjoyment which the people
of this area experience as they make use of the
Community Centre facilities in the years ahead.
eninq ends mont
The etticiat opening of the
russets. Morris and, Grey
arnonity Centre Saturday will
ark both an end and a
For the scores of people who
k a n active part in making the
na a reality, it will mark the
d of more than a year of
lin ing, fund raising and plain
rd work. For Brussels and
ighbouring communities, the
na opening will be the official
ginning of a new era for minor
its and community activities.
But though it has taken little
ore than a year to plan and build
a new arena, it's history really
s back to 1931. That was the
ear in which the old Brussels
ena was built. For 45 years it
rued as the hub of winter
ctivities for Brussels and the
rounding area.
Then, in february of 1976, the
nistry of Labour, in a
tinning program of arena
ections, asked council to, have
old building examined. The
edict was that it did not meet
ilding Code standards.
ovation costs were estimated
$250,000.
A committee was formed to
into the costs of building a
Iv arena, and by June of last
ar, support for the new building
s growing. The following story
peared on the front page of the
st on June 9, under the
adline "Council supports new
na".
Brussels council gave "moral
support" to the idea of building a
new $420,000 arena to serve the
village and. Morris and Grey at
their meeting Monday night. Jim
Prior, chairman of the committee
attempting to build a new arena,-
sought their support.
Clerk Bill King said although a
motion supporting a new arena in
principle was passed "we're not
in a position at this time to say
how much 'we could support it
financially." There's no provision
in the village's 1976 budget for
money for an arena, the clerk
said.
Clerk King said Grey Council
had sent Brussels a letter saying
that they too support the idea of a
new arena but couldn't indicate
their financial support. Mr. Prior
and his committee met in late
May with members of the three
councils and a public meeting to
discuss the new arena is planned
for Monday night, June 14.e
Nearly 200 area people attended
that meeting and the Post 'of June
16 carried the following story:
"Brussels will proceed with
the construction of a $420,000
community centre. This was the
concensus enthusiastically
supported by close to 200
interested cirizens who attended
the public meeting in the Brussels
Legion Hall on Monday night.
Details call for a combinatibn
arena and auditorium complex
contained within a foundation
arch support super-structure of
laminated wooden beams. The
rink ar ea would consist of an ice
surface 85 by 180 feet surrounded
by seating for 500. Plans call for
an auditorium large enough to be
licenced for 350 people under the
L,C,I3.0. This area would also
include kitchen and washroom
facilities.
Grants in excess of $210,000
are expected from the Provincial
With general agreement in the
community that a new arena
should be built, the -problem, of
raising the necessary funds
became the arena committee's
biggest concern.But the people of
the area were quick to respond,
and on June 23, the Post reported
thatthe1972 Centennial comrnitte
voted to give the Brussels
Recreation Committee a $6,000
contribution toward the new
arena.
From the beginning, it was
decided that raising the money
shbuld be a community effort,
and that no village tax dollars
should go to the arena. It was an
ambitious plan, but those
involved went at it with
enthusiasm.
4410•LIbillItP10.11•14111111•1101111101.1132
Calvin Kranter
Reeve. of
BRUSSELS
government and Wintario.- An
agricultural grant would be
available and would range in the
area of $15,000, The remainder of
the cost would have to be raised
locally through public donations
' and fund-raising projects.
The site of the new building has
not been finalized but one
At a meeting July 12 of last
year, Jim Prior was named
chairman of the Brussels Morris
and Grey Recreation ' Centre
Board, with Ralph Watson as
treasurer, and Shirley Wheeler
and Audrey' Cardiff as secretar-
ies.
The finance committee was
headed by Frank. Stretton, with
Ross McCall as First VP and Don
McDonald as second VP.
Shirley Cossitt was named
publicity chairman.
The finance committee began
plans 'to raise more than
$200,000, part of it through a
house to house campaign. -
That week Mr. Prior reported
that about $11,000 had been
raised through voluntary
W.J. Elston
Ree-V6 o f
MORRIS
proposal has, it located inside the
track at the fairgrounds. it was
eontended that this site, while
eliminating cost of land, would
make the building qualified to
receive agricultural grants and
also be an asset during the fall
fair,"
contribution before the campaign
for funds began.'
"We've got $190,000 to go yet
and its not going to be easy" he
said, but added that the enthu-
siasm was there. "With anyone
I've talked to, its a foregone
conclusion that we're going to
have a new arena".
Meanwhile, the old arena
remained o pen, and the villag e
awaited word from the Ministry
of Labour on its fate.
It wasn't long in coming. In a
letter dated July 16, 1976, the
Ministry ordered the old building
either repaired or closed. Council
decided to schedule talks with the
ministry to stay the closing order
for a time at least.
'Roy Williamson
Reeve of
GREY
Funds to come from community