Celebrating a brand-new kitchen
Reserve Mines Seniors and Pensioners Club to host dinner
There is something new cooking at the Reserve Mines Seniors and Pensioners Club.
And there will be an open house on Saturday at 5 p.m. in celebration of the club’s new $125,000 state-of-the art kitchen.
“Our kitchen was so tiny before we couldn’t move, we’d always be bumping into each other,” said Debby Parsons, president of the club’s ladies auxiliary.
“We’d have to move the table over to open the oven door and then move the table back. We added a new wing onto the building and now could fit four or five old kitchens in here, that’s how big it is.”
Parsons said the old kitchen had small stoves that limited what they could cook. They now have two large stoves with six burners on each.
The kitchen also includes a $13,000 fan system and a safety unit in case of a fire. There are also two fridges, two triple sinks and a handwashing sink.
She said the club owes the new kitchen to the hard work and dedication of the building committee that includes the club president Mel Bryden, Walter Mackenzie and Winky Maclean.
“The work they put into this was amazing, they did an incredible job.”
She said the kitchen will last for generations.
“When I’m old … I’ll be here asking for them to serve me a nice cup of tea. That kitchen is going to be here for all the young women up and coming.”
The Reserve club struggled for a number of years until 2014 when new members came forward and later a new executive was formed.
Parsons encourages people to visit their club to see what it’s all about.
“The club is amazing, the members are extremely friendly. Ïf someone is home alone even come out once and you’ll see how welcomed you’ll be. I can’t praise it enough.
“We are like a family always working well together for whatever has to be done.”
Club president Mel Bryden said a building committee was formed in 2016 to oversee the renovation.
“We’re ecstatic to have this state-of-the-art kitchen,” he said. “We have great members and a great workforce that helped us, this came from the members and the community.”
Bryden said the $125,000 in funding for the kitchen included $50,000 from the province, $25,000 from the federal government, $5,000 from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, $15,000 from the club and $30,000 in-kind donations of time from tradespeople.
“There were plumbers, electricians, carpenters and others who donated their time. This allowed the club to double up on appliances and build an entire new set of cupboards.”
He said the celebration Saturday is a way for the entire club to thank them.
“It’s all about the people who gave us their time for nothing,” he said. “This is a three-course meal and we’ll be giving a gift to each of them as a way to say thanks.”
Bryden said the kitchen provides sustainability for the club, gives the auxiliary the opportunity to fundraise through meals or catering events such as anniversaries and birthdays.
“We have an awesome group. Not only will this kitchen allow us to raise money to pay bills it will help so we won’t have to depend on government funding.”