MOVING DAY
Southend Community Centre settles into new home
Southend Community Centre moving to former Mira Road school.
When the Southend Community Centre was essentially destroyed in the Thanksgiving Day flood, few people were as deeply affected as Angie MacDonald.
Not only had she worked at the building on Hillview Street in Sydney’s south end for the past 16 years, she met her husband, raised her children and formed some of her closest friendships there. That’s why this week’s move into the centre’s new home in the former Mira Road elementary school has been particularly emotional.
“I had a very close attachment and when the centre was gone, I felt like a part of me kind of left,” said MacDonald, the centre’s administrator and program manager. “And this has kind of given me a new outlook, kind of like a new beginning. Just in the last week I’m so happy, I have more energy, because I know I have a good new secure place to go.”
And after a brief tour on Tuesday, it’s not hard to see why she’s so delighted.
Even though it’s just the second day they’ve actually been operating out of their new home on George Street next to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, and renovations are still underway, the centre is alive with the sounds of laughter and children playing.
In different sections of the hallways kids in the afterschool program are playing beanbag toss and rolling balls at colourful bowling pins made out of two-litre soda bottles, while others are shooting hoops and sitting around on the stage chatting in the spacious gym.
Of course it wasn’t an easy six months. After the flood, the centre operated out of an old church on Spruce Street in Sydney, but space was tight and resources were limited. Then in January, a week after their old home in the former Woodill school went under the wrecking ball, the province announced it was reclaiming the school from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and leasing it to the Southend Community Development Association for $1.
“It’s been a brutal journey — I won’t lie,” said MacDonald.
“It’s like moving into a new home with no furniture — you’re starting all over. But the kids love it, we love it, the staff is happy and our volunteers are happy that we’re here. It’s been a great transition.”
The new building also has several advantages. The gym is already drawing interest from floor hockey games and drama groups, and the school, which has been empty since closing in June, has a large grassy play area with soccer nets and plenty of playground equipment. The building also has about 13 rooms, including a large taekwondo dojo that was once three separate classrooms.
The response from the children has been overwhelmingly positive, said MacDonald, including Daniel MacDougall.
“I was sad about the other building because I had a lot of memories there but now we’re on to bigger and better things,” said the 10-year-old Sydney resident. “We didn’t have basketball nets at the other place and there’s a bigger back yard I think. It’s nice.”
MacDonald said now that they’re settling into their new home, they want to hear from community-based, non-profit activities and organizations that need a space to set up.
“We want the doors to be revolving — different programs and lots of people using the building,” she said. “It’s a perfect little spot for community programs.”
The centre will hold its official grand opening in early September. In the meantime, anyone interested in using the centre can contact MacDonald at 902-574-6269 or on its Facebook page.