Proud of Our Past: Embracing Our Future!!
Dear Friends,
Over the last sixty years, we have enlarged and adapted our space to accommodate various immediate needs. In 2008 we made the bold decision to repair and rearrange our facilities. We recognized our community place had great bones, but was, in many ways, tired and inefficient.
So, we hired Cohlmeyer Architects to help us bring our dreams alive. Together, after several years of careful planning, we designed a vision that has inspired the current congregation. It is our dream to reorganize our space to provide
- one main glass-door entrance,
- a large foyer,
- two multi-purpose halls (instead of three) and a kitchen on the main floor,
- a multitude of up-to-date, attractive small group meeting rooms in the Lower Level
- with improved infrastructure throughout (drainage, electrical, ventilation, fire-safety and security).
To date we have been very pleased with the progress and achievements.
- We have purchased design plans for the entire three phases of the project (so everything in stage 3 will fit with work done in stage 1);
- We have fixed drainage problems (although few people appreciate that we no longer leak!);
- The new electrical service, and ventilation plant are eclipsed on the appreciation meter by the air-conditioning in the sanctuary;
- Parents appreciate the new nursery, and improved fire safety ratings in the lower level;
- Our lovely new glass entrance way, coat room, porch and ramp garner rave reviews; and
- The new foyer space on Sunday is abuzz with energy and people making plans!
- Thanks to the commitment and generosity of our community, we have not had to borrow a cent!
Indeed, we have funds on hand to do the basics of Stage Two
- which includes the division of the Lower Hall into several large modern multi/single-use meeting spaces;
- with the appropriate ceiling, flooring, wiring, and ventilation improvements;
- Stage Two was delayed in 2011 by the relatively slow City permit process;
- Rather than risk construction through our 2011 fall programming, we have scheduled this work for May of 2012.
This gives us opportunity to raise more funds to provide attractive, finished spaces for our children, each other, and occasional community renters. With additional funds we may at the same time, efficiently complete the fire-safety enhancements required in the Narthex stairwell, replace 3/4s of the old wooden entrance with glass block, leaving a doorway from an attractive parlor to a new scattering and meditation garden. Additional funds will help us complete Stage Two with some improved furnishings. These will be spaces people will love to use!
Can you help? Please consider donating to this exciting church endeavor. You helped make this church what it is today. Please help make it what it can be for tomorrow! Make your donation to the Fort Garry Building Fund.
Come see what we've done, and where we're going.
We have been blessed in the faith by generations before us ... we hope to leave a blessing for generations to come.
Sincerely
Dianne Cooper Peggy Tyrchniewicz
Chair of Council Chair of Building Renewal Committee
P.S. - Stage Three - Just For Your Information
Stage Three works is another large piece of work that will take place some time in the future. It involves work on the main floor level which has been approved in principle, but requires final congregational approval before work proceeds. For the sake of reminding you of the final vision:
This phase calls for
- opening up the central core into more spacious foyer, and
- moving our worship space into the east side of our building
- and the Upper Hall (hall, offices, kitchen) into the west side of the building.
This move will provide a host of benefits:
- improved sight lines, and easier direction finding,
- better acoustics to hear what’s happening in worship,
- controllable lighting for improved staging and projection,
- updated electrical and ventilation support
- upgrades will provide fire-safety codes being met
- easier traffic flow to staff offices and information centre
- a modern kitchen for food service events
- a café on the main floor to visit with friends
- a chapel for smaller ceremonies
- a “cry-room” off the worship space where parents and babies may relax
- more overflow space for large events
- rectangular hall space more suitable for activity and suppers
- new accessible bathrooms
- two large multi-use spaces more attractive to rental income
- retaining current faith symbols (communion table, font, stained glass, cross, etc)
- more comfortable seating
- multi-use stage more suitable for drama, concerts, etc.
To be sure, there will be challenges and effort required to get there. But judging from the appreciation of the work already done ... it looks like we will be providing well for future generations.
