by Lori Treloar
In the mid 1980s a report was commissioned by the CVRD to examine the Shawnigan Lake Community Hall. The report indicated that the 50 year old hall had a limited lifespan and that extensive upgrades were necessary to bring it up to code. The Fire department considered it a hazard and recommended limited use. Some essential upgrades were done to the hall but the dream of a new Community Centre emerged.
As in 1910, it was a community member that made the dream a possibility. In 1989, Ray Dougan sold the 5.2 acre parcel, adjacent to Elsie Miles School, to the CVRD at less than half of the assessed value for the site of a new Community Centre. That same year an architect was hired, a design research group was struck and public meetings were held.
A referendum was held in November 1990 for the authorization to obtain a loan and build the Community Centre. The vote passed by less than 30 votes, but it was considered accepted.
After the referendum, a Victoria lawyer and longtime summer resident argued that the referendum was illegal because it had not been properly posted. Apparently, the law states that the notice must appear at the local Police station – the notice had only been posted at Aitken and Fraser and at the CVRD office in Duncan (this practice had been the norm at Shawnigan for over twenty years). The community was outraged. The lawyer then organized a group, of mostly summer residents and waterfront owners, called the “Waterfront Property Association” to protest the new Community Centre.
Supporters of the Community Centre rallied and went through the lengthy process of organizing a second referendum for May 1991. This time there was no doubt. A much larger voter turnout with a much larger majority ensured that the project would go ahead.
A GoBC grant was secured and two local buildings, the Shawnigan Lake Library and the Shawnigan Lake Community Hall, were sold to help finance the $1.4 million projected cost.
Community involvement in the design and construction of the new Community Centre, under the leadership of the Shawnigan Lake Community Association, was immense. Several local artists guided many groups of volunteers through a variety of techniques, including carving, tile painting, sculpture and woven arts, to make “integrated crafted detail” an important part of the final product. This artistic enrichment created a building that is much more than just a collection of construction materials. The Shawnigan Lake Community Centre exudes “Community Spirit” and involvement. This community effort led to a BC Recreation and Parks Association Award of Excellence for a recreational facility.
The Shawnigan Lake Community Centre opened in February 1994 with one part time co-op student and a group of dedicated volunteers.
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