MINDEMOYA—The Mindemoya Old School Repurposing Committee (MOSRC) met January 30 as members continue their quest to find an outstanding function for the iconic building with Ted Williamson chairing the meeting.
Linda Farquhar started things off with her report from her meeting with the 14 members of the Mindemoya Golden Age Club. She told the committee that two of the organization’s members are very enthused about helping out with ideas for the edifice and stressed that a questionnaire is needed in order to find out exactly what seniors would like to see in the Old School. The questionnaire, Councillor Farquhar thought, should be sent out especially for those living in the Sparrows Nest building and also in the Gordon development. It was noted that there will be over 800 seniors in Central Manitoulin in the next few years.
Lois Newton was a community member at the meeting, and as Councillor Farquhar finished her report, Ms. Newton stated that she was there to report on the Twilight Club’s decision that their members were not interested in joining a Mindemoya group. “It was unanimous that they would help their own group, not join a Mindemoya group,” she said.
“What would you like to have that you don’t have?” Jan McQuay asked, naming several choices that could be offered to seniors, including workshops for such activities as carving, stained glass, pottery, fitness classes, blood pressure clinics and so on. “Perhaps we could have a luncheon every Monday,” she suggested.
Ms. McQuay also had a suggestion based on her recent stay in Costa Rica. “They had a beautiful theatre,” she said. “You could rent videos and go and watch them on a screen. Manitoulin has no such thing. That is something that people might really be interested in. There would be comfortable chairs and so on.”
The idea for music was also deemed necessary, for Islanders do love their tunes, and Councillor Farquhar added that “we could offer things for seniors, but we could also rent out offices and bring in a little income as well.”
Hal Love voiced his ideas for the space and noted that it would be good if seniors could come to the school for activities and thereby giving their caretakers a much needed break.
“We have the facility,” Mayor Richard Stephens observed. “We are looking to see what use we can have.”
When the talk then turned to the all-important questionnaire, Mayor Stephens remarked that the ministry (Ministry for Seniors Affairs) would be able to help with that and that they could supply information to help get it going. Ms. Newton also knew of some help for this action, saying, “Blair Sullivan did the questionnaire for the Providence Bay Club. Perhaps you could talk to him.” In the end, Ms. McQuay as well as Mr. Love volunteered to work on getting a questionnaire out to see what seniors want in the old school house.
Mr. Love had some really good news for the committee in his report on meeting with Andrea Tann, an architectural firm employee and Mike Addison of LAMBAC. He said that “Andrea and Mike will offer their expertise and will check on funding. I gave her some plans and she wants to do a walk-through.” He went on to say that she would do architectural designs to show what the building would look like. “These designs would help with applying for funding,” Mr. Love commented.
“I think that is the best news ever,” Joanne Smith exclaimed.
The next item up for discussion was the idea that had been put forth of having a ramp outside the building for accessibility to the bottom floor for a seniors’ better living activity centre. The ramp was to run along the side of the building, but Ms. McQuay questioned why they would have a ramp running all the way to the back of the building. After some discussion, with Ms. McQuay in favour of the ramp entering the building from the front, both Sam Bondi and Mayor Stephens agreed that it would be the specialists who would decide the best installation of a ramp.
The committee members also discussed where the start, that is, the seniors’ space, should be with Councillor Farquhar and Ms. Smith opting for starting with the top floor. Mr. Love noted that the second floor has much more potential for other interests such as offices. “We have a building—get the experts in and then decide which way we will go.”
“Andrea is keen to do it, so let’s get on it,” Mr. Bondi asserted, with Mr. Love adding that Andrea may have a few options to give the committee.
Central Manitoulin’s Economic Development Officer Nancy Kinoshameg had information for the committee about grants that may be available but noted that there was not much money around. “We can’t get money for renovations,” she said, “but maybe if we had a program.” She noted that several of the funds available were for active people or, like the Ontario sport and Recreation fund, to get older people more active. Ms. McQuay had information to share about Building Communities through Arts and Heritage funding, but noted that the committee had only two months to submit an application.
When Mr. Williamson asked, “Do we apply for funding?” Ms. McQuay said that she would approach LAMBAC for advice. In the end, it was decided that Ms. Kinoshameg, Councillor Farquhar, Ms. McQuay, Ms. Smith, Mr. Bondi and Mr. Love will meet with Mr. Addison at the LAMBAC office on February 12.
Other ideas were brought up at the meeting with Mayor Stephens saying that perhaps the Tehkummah seniors’ group could join with Mindemoya to ensure the success of both organizations and Ms. McQuay remarking that they would need an organization for seniors to run the place. Ms. Smith suggested that an information potluck supper could be held with the questionnaire handed out at that event to get a better idea of what people want.
Ms. McQuay had contacted Better Living and handed out their magazines to members. This organization has programs throughout Toronto and she also talked about seniors’ programs in Gravenhurst and Etobicoke.
Islanders are encouraged to check out the Facebook page, New Life for an Old School, that Ms. McQuay has set up. She will have a general posting about what the committee is thinking of doing and she will also boost the wording to Sudbury. Ms. McQuay will be going to the Senior Citizens’ Centre in Sudbury to see the programs that they offer and Mr. Williamson will meet her there.
The next MOSRC meeting will be February 20 at 10 am. Committee meetings are open to the public and Islanders are encouraged to attend.
