Lakeshore Advance, 2012-07-18, Page 191
4 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thedford Legacy Centre: Dreams do come true
Lakeshore Advance
It was a long wait, but it was worth it:
said MC Christine O'Reilly at the opening
of Thedford's new Legacy Centre on Satur-
day. Leaving more than 400 people dab-
bing their eyes she said the first wedding,
the first skate, the first book read, the first of
so many things will happen at this new
facility and "what an amazing facility it is."
An idea that began in 2006 has conte to
fruition when the doors opened. Looks of
delight on the faces of those who have
waited patiently made it all worthwhile.
This was everything the community and
council had hoped for.
Latnbton Shores Mayor Bill Weber said,
"This was, to say the least, a challenging
project•"
He told the large crowd that while
council had it on the radar to do
something to the facility in the near future,
no one anticipated that the economic
downturn would come. And with it the
announcement of Federal and Provincial
funding assistance was their cue to go
ahead.
"The Council of the day and staff quickly
responded to the opportunity to bring
some of your tax dollars back to Lambton
Shores to work for you and we were able to
secure $3,000,000.00 towards the project,
plus additional funding from the Green
Municipal Fund -So to Mr. Shipley our MP
and the federal government thanks for
your help and thanks for being here today
to share in this day. Also thanks to Maria
Van Bommel our MPP, and the provincial
government for their share in the funding.
The mayor congratulated the fundrais-
ing committee for raising and exceeding
their fundraising goal, a remarkable feat
considering the economic times. 'I would
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Free Admission - Rain or Shine- Details at
www,grandbendaquaf est,com
Make a Sash 0 Our free EoHuh
August 5,6, &7, 2011
Three days - Five venues: Grand Bend Legion and Optimist Youth
Centra, River Road, Main Beach, Pinery Provindal Park, and West
Ipperwa.h Beach
Highlights include:
Juno Nominated Singer Songwriter Danny Michel Dr. John Howard
Canadian Aseodstlon of Physicians for the Environment Great Lakes
Chowder Competition with Chef Anthony Walsh of Canoe Cameron Britton
JassTrio Water Acknowledgment Ceremony Educational Activities Art
Exhibits Photo Show Water Demos Eco -Displays Canoe Rides Hikes Face
Painting Bouncy Castle
Sponsored By:
• iIBC Bisewater
•
Nedra Energy
•
Mary of Greed Barad
• TD Mesh oltks
eariroe ssst
•
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sf Leeks Cowairrlty
Poradados
Avis* BayAsid
Csasenstiee
hoiden
• Aeon
• Sarnia Lambton
Brsls
Dwelop.est
Carporadon
• Kay Cosilmrsicsttons
• Meads of the Plrety
• Crud had Legion
• Gned Ned Opdalsta
• Aunt Guava
• bilks P ctuurr
Framing
• Tack 21 Graphbc
• River Rad Gallery
• Purdy's Fisheries.
• Paddington's Pub
• Oakwood Inn
• Grand Bend Yacht Club
• Henry's Camera
• Home Hardware
• Mouop Media
• Brenda Parsons
like to thank the previous Council
for looking forward and putting this
project together, securing the fund-
ing, and getting it underway. Ile
also thanked the new council for
keeping that momentum going.
Former mayor Gord Minielly, and
former councilors Mark Simpson
and Gerry Rupke joined the coun-
cil of today in recognition for their
efforts from start to finish. The
mayor thanked Peter Cook and his
team from Jorden & Cook Archi-
tects and their technical consulting
team for the beautiful design.
"They have helped us build the
first LEER Designated building in
Lambton Shores. LEED stands
for Leadership in Energy & Design.
It is an internationally recognized
Green building system intended to
improve performance in such
things as energy savings," said the
mayor. I also want to acknowl-
edge AUBI Building Inc. our con-
tractor on this project, this was a
challenging project and while we
didn't get'er done within the time
frame we hoped, we now have a
well build facility that will serve the
community for many years to
come," said the mayor.
Ile also thanked Peggy Van
Mierlo-West and her community
services department of Lambton
Shores for all they did in snaking
this project a reality. Ile thanked
the staff for their team work to work
out every hurdle along the way.
"But most of all I want to thank
all the user groups for their
patience and understanding and
putting up with all the delays and
inconvenience this project has cre-
ated," said Weber.
In his speech co-chair Jeff Zavitz
said he played hockey in the first
arena and played and coached in
the second. He sat on the arena
committee as a member of council
and was later asked to lead a com-
mittee to look at ways to repair,
replace or rejuvenate that same
building. They asked user groups
for input and they made it clear
they needed to look beyond today,
but to look down the road for uses
far into the future. "They did and
wow! Look what we have here," he
said.
"What does this place mean to
me? It's a place where my family
can play, learn, dance, laugh, love
and most of all be together. My
family has been in this community
for six generations and when I had
the chance to help create a place
that my family could share for
more genertions to come, I
jumped at the chance and now
with the help of so many people
our dream came true;' he said.
Zavitz said for the community it
means hope and a place to share
good times and bad and to make
decisions and to celebrate. "I hope
it's a place to make you proud to
live here and I hope it's a place that
makes others want to live here. 1
really hope it is the heart of our
community,'
As for fundraising, Zavitz said
the world had just suffered
through the worst economic
development crisis since the great
depression and followed three
very successful fundraising cam-
paigns being the Shores in Forest,
the beach enhancement in Grand
Bend and the soccer facility at Tax-
andria. Even with all the construc-
tion delays and a little too optimik
tic completion dates and a whole
lot of gossip -this fund raising com-
mittee was able to exceed their
goal of $400,000 with $491,918.28
and counting.
Councilor Ruth Illman said
when a group of people kept the
faith and allowed themselves to
dream a little- success does hap-
pen. Former Deputy mayor Caro-
lyn Jamieson, whose name is
proudly displayed over the new
library was able to celebrate her
milestone birthday and opening of
the long awaited facility on the
same day, said this new facility will
help all area businesses, given that
economic boost every community
needs to thrive.
MPP Maria VanBommel sent
her regrets and congratulations,
MP Bev Shipley spoke and Lamb -
ton warden Steve Arnold was in
attendance.
If you missed the tour:
For those who missed the tour,
Arnold will do a meet and greet
from 8-10 a.m. at the Legacy Cen-
tre on August 3. Everyone is wel-
come to come out to see what the
new facility has to offer.
Lynda Hillman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance
Fundraising committee made up of Jeff
Zavitz, Connis Van Engelen, Engelen
Jackie Mason, Randy Shaw, Tony Charette,
Lynn Rawlings, Mary Lou Glenn, Don
Blrr, Dan McLachlan, Karen Werdle and
Sandra Herrington with former mayor
Gord Minielly and mayor Bill Weber at
Saturday's event.
The fundraising committee offered tours
at the new Legacy Centre in Thedford.
Thls shows the new arena part of the
facility.
•