Buckmasters Circle Community Centre hits the big 2-5
Residents young and old celebrate 25th anniversary of the Buckmasters Circle Community Centre
Jenny King looked to have her hands full holding on to jackets, her purse and balloons while trying to take photos of her granddaughters, but she’s laughing.
“Oh my God, they’re having a ball,” she said, smiling.
Her youngest granddaughter, Maddy Garrett, 10, had her face painted, while Maddy’s older sister Abigail Garrett, 13 and their cousin Jessica Garrett, 18, had coloured balloons wrapped around their heads as they danced in front of the band, The Black Sheep.
They were among the few hundred people who turned out Wednesday afternoon at the Buckmasters Circle Rotary Park in St. John’s to take part in the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Buckmasters Circle Community Centre.
Constructed in 1993 by converting three housing units, the centre has become the heart of the community.
It offers more than 600 residents from 195 non-profit housing units in the community, along with some residents outside the area, a wide array of programs for young and old, along with social, education, health and employment services.
King said her granddaughters were involved in various activities at the centre for years.
“It’s absolutely wonderful what they do for the kids, and adults, too. It’s unreal,” she said. “Every single time we’d come down, we always felt welcome there. They’re a great bunch of people.”
Sarah Hutchings and her nine-year-old daughter, Faith Hunt, also came to Wednesday’s party in the park, which featured everything from balloon twisting, bouncy castles, face painting, games and a seniors’ tents, along with snacks and treats.
Hutchings said she had many
good times at the centre as a child and is glad her daughter is taking part in the summer camp at the centre.
“Oh, we had many good times there, growing up,” she said. “Whatever was going on, we’d be there to hang out for play ping pong.”
“It helps a lot of people stay out of trouble, too,” added her friend, Sandy Jones.
The centre’s executive director, Bonnie James, started at the centre 18 years ago as a volunteer and has seen many people benefit from their involvement at the centre.
“I always saw a sense of community here and great sense of connectedness,” said James, who said they see, on average, 6,700 people annually and is on par to reach the 10,000 mark this year.
“There’ been a lot of growth, a lot of positive things happening over the years.”
An example of that, she said, has been the addition of the Rotary
Park, located not far from the centre. The space had been a little-used softball field for years before it was converted into an inviting, safe place for children to play as a result of the efforts of the centre’s members, who, beginning in 2003, set out to plan the change, obtaining support from government and other groups, including the Rotary Club, the Grand Concourse and the Tenants Association.
The various programs offered at the centre including, for young people, Play and Learn, the breakfast program, family suppers, Lunch and Learn and Circle of Expression, in which young people use arts and crafts to express themselves. Some other adults’ programs include healthy cooking, sewing and employment support, in which people come for help in getting a resume, funding for school and applying for scholarships, and Health Moms, a partnership with Eastern Health.
A nurse practitioner also comes to the centre one day a week.
“Those services are invaluable,” said James, who also noted the centre has a key partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, which provides its core funding.
While the numbers fluctuate, the preschool program and the mother-daughter program, which started over 12 years ago, remain among the more popular programs, she said.
“The centre is a support
system that (people) need in different times off their lives …” James said. “Any one of us would love a place where they can walk through the door and be greeted with a smile and feel welcomed and feel validated in what they’re experiencing on that particular day. And whether than comes in the form of attending a program with friends and neighbours, coming to talk to a staff person or meeting new people, I think many people feel it’s creating a sense of wrap-around supports for people.”
About 30 volunteers, some of which make up the board of directors, help out at the centre, along with its four staff members — James, program co-ordinators Kim Mallard, Sarah Osmond and Candy Jones. James hopes the number of staff member will soon increase.
“We’re had 25 really successful years in the community and we’ve done a lot of work during that time,” James said.
“The future really looks bright.”