Donor appreciation/soft launch a success for updated Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Donors who contributed significantly to the “Inspiring Our Future” campaign received a sneak peek of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre (BMGCC) to see the results of their munificence firsthand at a special event on Wednesday, May 29. Renovations are nearing completion at the BMGCC and campaign organizers took the opportunity to show gratitude for the generosity that helped bring the project to near fruition.

Huron East Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts welcomed benefactors to the shiny and refreshed community hub that still has that new arena smell. “Thank you, everybody, for coming,” began McRoberts. “We have a great turnout. It is wonderful to see this new wonderful building. A lot of work has gone into it and certainly some appreciation should be given to all the donors.”

Huron East Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan spoke about the importance of the facility. “Community centres and arenas are an important part of any community, and this being true, we stand here tonight. Be it a big hockey game, spring auction, elimination draw, fall fair; where do we meet? We meet here.” 

McLellan continued by highlighting the work of volunteers who contributed to the effort. “There’s many hours spent, many nights that people didn’t get paid for to bring this project to life.”

Concluding his remarks, McLellan said, “So, thank you again. This will give Brussels a shot in the arm for the next 50 years.”
McRoberts returned to the microphone to welcome the mayor of neighbouring municipality Morris-Turnberry, Jamie Heffer. Morris-Turnberry also made significant contributions to the gargantuan undertaking as one of the facility’s partner municipalities. “Thank you for the opportunity to come and to be part of this evening,” Heffer began. “On behalf of council and the residents of Morris-Turnberry, I just want to shout out and say thank you to all of you that have participated in this project. It’s one thing to have a vision, but when we can come tonight and see this vision come to a conclusion like this, it’s pretty good.”
Heffer took a historical perspective, saying that the community of Brussels has always been ready to support initiatives like this and, “here we are, over 100 years later, and I think we can still say the same thing.”

In closing, Heffer said, “for those of you who have donated and contributed in that way, we certainly have a building that’s going to last for many years to come and serve us well. So again, on behalf of Morris-Turnberry council and residents, thank you. It’s good to see such a strong community.”

While Heffer was making his comments, former BMGCC facility manager Abi Corbett discreetly adjusted the volume on the public announcement system. McRoberts acknowledged the assistance, saying, “thanks Abi for turning up the volume.” Corbett received an ovation with cries of “Yay, Abi!” emerging from the crowd.

McRoberts offered a few words of appreciation of his own. “A couple of things I want to say on behalf of me as the CAO and all of the staff that worked with this project: I have to give kudos to both [Building Committee co-Deputy-Chairs Doug McArter and John Van Vliet]. They were my advocates, they were my ‘pain in the…’ at times, but they were good. A lot of this, a lot of the work, a lot of the vision that we're seeing here today has a lot to do with these two gentlemen.”

McArter addressed the assembly, adding to the chorus of gratitude. “We want to welcome all of you people here who were instrumental in this place taking effect. Welcome to our soft opening for the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, celebrating you, who, without your generous gifts, this facility probably wouldn’t have been able to happen.”

McArter, on behalf of himself, co-Deputy-Chair Van Vliet, Campaign Co-ordinator Roxane Nicholson, “Inspiring Our Future” Chair Brian TenPas, all the members of the building and fundraising committees and past-members of the Brussels recreation committee, offered thanks to the assembled donors who were instrumental in achieving this lofty goal. “Because it was such a combined effort, I won’t mention everyone. We appreciate all who were involved in this project. Their names are listed in the lobby on a plaque, just outside the door where you go into the rink. If you read those names and see [those people], be sure to thank them.” 

McArter also thanked the municipalities of Huron East and Morris-Turnberry for “sharing our vision for the renovation of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.” He highlighted the efforts of past Huron East CAO Brad Knight, who successfully co-ordinated grant applications, and McRoberts for seeing the project through to the present day after Knight retired.
Reminiscing about the project’s origins, McArter described an early meeting with TenPas that took place in a garage around a wood stove. At that meeting, after some convincing, TenPas agreed to be chair of the capital committee. McArter noted that the time elapsed since the first committee meeting was five years, six months and three days, or “48,264 hours since we started this thing. Mind you, we did have a little COVID thing that interrupted us for a time, but it has flown by.”

McArter summed up the magnitude of the fundraising accomplished by their team. “Our fundraising committee, with your help, raised an astounding $2,552,743.52.”

Special mention went to committee members Michelle Blake and Marnie Knight, who spearheaded the donor signage wayfinding that, McArter noted, is displayed on the walls of the BMGCC.

Before concluding his address, McArter invited Corbett back to the front to receive a framed picture of the BMGCC as a gift for her contributions.

Wrapping up his remarks, McArter added, “We do have a grand opening planned for Nov. 16, 2024. We’re scheduling events all through the day on that Saturday and this place will be hopping…. It’s going to be the perfect opportunity to show off this place and what it can do.”

Before ending the formal portion of the evening, McRoberts provided gifts from Huron East to McArter and Van Vliet. He then encouraged attendees to indulge in the catering provided by Brussels’ own Cardiff Catering, visit the bar, and to wander around the facility to observe all of the improvements for themselves.