Rural residents celebrated a new addition to their community Wednesday night that has been a long-time coming.
More than a decade after a fire destroyed the original Pineview Recreation Centre, a $275,000 renovation project is finally complete, which includes an extension of new offices, ‘much-needed’ storage spaces, and a new boardroom.
“Funding is the really big answer to that question, as well as the will for somebody that would actually do it,” Recreation Centre Jeff Vandooyeweert explained to My Prince George Now on why plans were delayed.
“We’ve expanded quite a lot in the last few years, and it’s huge to the community. From funerals to dances, parties to weddings, everything happens in this building. It pertains to how the community is thriving.”
He also described the renovation as a relief for seniors and those with disabilities as a unisex, wheelchair accessible bathroom is now available.
Denise Meise, like other residents in the rural area southeast of Prince George, has lived in Pineview for more than 50 years, and is thrilled with the building’s new look and what’s in store for the future.
“People like to use the space. We currently have a lady giving music lessons to kids, so now the children in this area can go to music lessons and have that accessibility. We had another lady come do dance last year and the kids had an opportunity to experience the dance program and we are able to do it at a lesser cost so that they could try it before going into town [Prince George] and spending a lot of money.”
The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) and Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) provided the funding for the project.