ST. JOSEPH’S – When the St. Joseph’s community comes together for an event, more often than not, it’s at the St. Joseph’s Lakeside Community Centre.
Over the years, the facility has brought residents together for many occasions, playing host to weddings, birthday parties, funerals and more.
But 20-plus years ago, the building had a very different future. When St. Joseph’s School, built in the 1960s, was slated for closure, a group of local residents saw an opportunity to give the building new life as a community gathering place.
They raised money, lobbied governments and put their various talents to work, and over $1 million later, eventually transformed the former school into a new community centre.
On Saturday, the community gathered at the centre to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that effort and the people who made it possible.
Adrian Van Berkel and John Graham MacDonald were among the volunteers who helped bring the new centre to life. They said in an interview with The Journal that at the time, they had to choose between renovating the old community hall or renovating the school.
“We knew at the end of the day that this was the better project,” said MacDonald of the school renovation option, remarking that the school building was in better shape than the hall.
They said the renovations were pretty extensive, ranging from plumbing to electrical to outside siding and a roof overhaul. They said the job was made easier by having a willing team of volunteers with a diverse skill set.
“We had a good little powerhouse,” MacDonald said, adding that it was a no-brainer to keep a community centre in the area, as it is where everyone gathers for many different kinds of events.
The new centre continued that tradition. Wendy Hayne, chair of the St. Joseph’s Lakeside Community Centre, said the facility now plays host to everything from breakfasts to weddings to a fitness centre.
At the event, Hayne thanked many of the original members, Van Berkel and MacDonald included, who played a hand in bringing the community centre to life 20 years ago. The celebration also recognized Hughie Stewart, a former Antigonish County councillor for District 3 who played an important role in helping establish the centre.
A room in the centre was named in Stewart’s honour, and Stewart himself was on hand to cut the ribbon.
“He worked with us over those 20 years to ensure that we had funding to keep us going,” Hayne said.
The room, formerly used for games, will now be used as a multipurpose community space.
Former Antigonish County warden Owen Cameron said while some may not have seen a future for the school building, Stewart had a different plan.
“The school board made a decision that St. Joseph’s School was closing. Hughie made a decision that it wasn’t closing,” he said.
Cameron said Stewart believed that keeping facilities and services in the community would help attract people and encourage young families to build their lives there.
“And we see the development out here in St. Joseph’s, and that’s due in large part to Hughie’s push around that table.”
Bryan Druhan, whose father, the late Benny Druhan, was part of the original team of volunteers, said his father would appreciate seeing all the community gathered there to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
“The faces have changed, but the spirit’s the same. People coming together to keep the community together. Important things happen here: people celebrate, people mourn. We all come together, and it’s an important space to have. I just want to say dad would be proud to be here today and see what the centre has become after 20 years,” he said.
That was certainly true for Van Berkel and MacDonald, who said it’s always a good feeling to come back for a visit and reflect on their work.
“It looks the same as the day we opened the door,” MacDonald offered.
