MINDEMOYA—The Mindemoya Old School Repurposing Committee (MOSRC) meeting on April 9 began with a thank you from Chairperson Ted Williamson to member Hal Love for his excellent presentation to council. Mr. Love had appeared before council on behalf of the committee to request $5,000 for a 10 percent share in the up to $50,000 for a consultant’s study of the old school building. The committee could breathe a sigh of relief and get on with their mandate when council accepted the recommendation.
Economic Development Officer (EDO) Nancy Kinoshameg informed the committee that a Phase One application has been submitted to FedNor and noted that “this is only for them to review if we have the criteria to go ahead. If yes, we can proceed to the next step. If we don’t meet the criteria, we can either tweak it or put in a full application to get a feasibility study.”
“The consultant will want to know what we want to use the building for,” Sam Bondi noted with Mr. Love adding that the survey was a good step. Mr. Bondi went on to say that there has to be some economic benefit down the road as well as helping seniors. “We would have to develop something along those lines,” Mr. Bondi added.
Member Joanne Smith commented that improving the building would create some employment and Mr. Bondi observed that there would also be some employment afterwards as a caretaker would be required.
Mr. Love noted the needs of Historical Society and said “we could work this into the feasibility study. Their requirements space wise and so on. There is an area of the old school house building that is almost ready made for the society.”
Member Linda Farquhar asked about the six months that the committee had been told would take to get study results back. “Does the six months include the initial application and the feasibility study?” and Ms. Kinoshameg replied that the six months is just the time the feasibility study would take. Ms. Farquhar then questioned whether the committee should ask council for an extended time for their mandate. To this, Ms. Farquhar reminded members that council does not meet in July and because this is an election year, after July, no major decisions can be made.
Mr. Williamson then said, “we are just asking for an extension, not a huge outlay of money.”
“It is pretty hard for council to say ‘no’ with FedNor involved,” Mr. Bondi added.
Ms. Kinoshameg emphasized the need for the committee to align their vision with Community Economic Development, a FedNor commitment to building strong and economic communities in Northern Ontario. “This is where the link has to be made,” she said.
To this, Jan McQuay added that the Legacy Fund will only fund community services and that they do fund capital projects. “We can do both,” she said. “Both the Legacy Fund and Community Economic Development.”
Talk then turned to the 100 year anniversary of the school house. “We need to make it significant for the community,” Mr. Bondi said. “We need a business plan at this stage. To do the alignment. In our minds, making the economic case, we have to say, ‘economically, we can do this.’ Employment is one aspect, attracting people to the community is another. For seniors looking for a place to move to.”
Mr. Love agreed and said, “Yes, we have to fit in some different features that we don’t have now.”
“There has to be an economic driver there,” Mr. Williamson offered to which Mr. Love said, “Yes, instead of just relying on grants.”
Mr. Love brought up one idea for an economic driver and that was to open up a consignment store as Islanders were very disappointed when Everything Under the Sun was closed.
Ms. Smith then said that the committee has to come up with a list of economic spin-offs that the committee could use and also asked about costs for the building roof. Mr. Love replied that he had contacted contractors for the price to repair the building roof and said, “It wasn’t a lot of money. About $15,000 for strapping and a metal roof.”
Ms. Kinoshameg was asked if the application for seniors programs which has gone through committee and council has been made and replied in the affirmative. She also had draft copies of the survey for members.
In response to the question regarding interests in groups and clubs on the survey, the largest number of respondents opted for a games room, followed by the movie room and book club. Language and computer classes were next while interest in genealogy was last.
The survey results showed a keen interest in the repurposing of the building as there were many suggestions for different aspects. Under Arts and Crafts, community theatre, photography, and sewing were suggested as well as automotive maintenance, bridge, candle making, carving, crocheting, woodworking, planters, painting, photography, tatting and a stamp club. Other interests for groups and clubs included budgeting tips, coin collecting, decorating the town, a gardening club, the Manitoulin Nature Club, Manitoulin Streams, a stamp club and DIY projects. Social/Community suggestions included activities with families, current affairs discussions and speakers, open mic Sundays and chat/coffee times.
Suggestions for fitness activities included biking, bocce ball, canoeing, square dancing, a dog walking club, golf, line dancing, Pilates, pole walking, cards, bird watching, exercise programs, volleyball and karaoke.
Cooking and eating category suggestions included baking and sauces, cooking for two, diabetes nutrition, dietary advice, eating healthy on a budget, gourmet cooking and meal planning.
Under respite for caregivers it was noted that this is necessary and that some of this may need to be done in the home.
Interest was also very keen for the section on health. The answers included a cancer support group, complimentary medicine advice, coping with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and aphasia from strokes, and intolerances and allergies, discussion with LHIN’s and health care planners and providers and heart health. The need for mental health and aging resources such as grief counselling and groups, depression and stretches and exercises for stronger bones and muscles and the use of hypo-allergenic building materials, cleaners and air fresheners were also suggested.
There were several suggestions for music programs. These included accordion lessons, guest musicians from off-Island as well as local, a community choir, country and gospel sing-alongs, drumming, lessons for youngsters and organ and voice lessons.
