In response to the Publisher’s Column of Nov 23-Dec 14, Issue #19/21 of The Bruce Peninsula Press – YES it is a necessity that the Friendship Club building stay and be renovated!!! Yes it was a stable at one time for the Lion’s Head Agriculture Fall Fair building. BUT, remember the reason that there is a Christmas celebration is that JESUS was born in a “stable”. More than half the foods we eat have a start in a “stable”.
The Municipality needs the 3 separate buildings in Lion’s Head – the arena, Friendship Hall and the Rotary Hall. The arena is the only building that has Municipal employees hired. Both the Friendship Hall and the Rotary Hall are run by member volunteers. Both these buildings were in operation at least 6 out of 7 days/week before Covid-19. Knowing that restrictions are lifting, they will become beehives of activity again.
Both clubs are for the community!
The Rotary Hall has had the renovations done. NOW is the time that the Friendship Hall has the necessary renovations done. The cost of $160,000.00 is peanuts for the Municipality’s budget! If these 2 buildings are closed and moved to the arena the $160,000.00 won’t even begin to cover the Municipal employee! The Friendship Hall is bright, clean and cozy and was quarantined at the onset of Covid-19 as an overflow for Covid patients – which was fortunately not required.
The Friendship Hall had 2 mornings per week for VON exercises, one morning for line dancers exercising, a hearing aid clinic came once a month as a rental for people with hearing aids. Bridge players played bridge twice a week on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Bid euchre played 3 afternoons per week. Regular euchre played one evening per week with complimentary weather months with Stokes Bay. The bid euchre was also a haven for many local residents with beginnings of dementia; it kept their minds working. There was a monthly pot luck meal to enjoy by the members. Special enhanced dinners for Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving etc. were enjoyed together – other special occasions as well. And sometimes maybe crokinole etc. was enjoyed for those who didn’t play euchres. A monthly business meeting was held and could have cards played after the meeting as well. The last Monday of each winter month a soup and sandwich was held before the game of bid euchre. We even bought soup mugs (at thrift stores) as the fall bid euchre tournament lunch was several pots soup plus sandwiches and goodies. Club members did the sandwiches for the Hospice Hike in May.
The Friendship Club gives a donation to a local “Child fund”. In past, students have been given money for their UNESCO trip to Winnipeg. In May a Ron and Millie Schenk bid euchre tournament is held and at both these there were others who came from Owen Sound, Wiarton, Sauble and beyond.
Other senior groups are just amazed with our building and hospitality. Great advertisement for North Bruce Peninsula. The Friendship Hall has a CERTIFIED kitchen. The Friendship Club has purchased all the appliances for the kitchen— refrigerator, commercial dishwasher, microwave, excellent electric stove, roasters, dishes, coffee machine, 3 sinks certified commercial, another sink for hands in order to be a certified kitchen, and buffet and small tables, chairs etc. etc.
The Club has air conditioner for summer use. The Friendship Hall had special gatherings on a Saturday during the quiet winter months to keep the members active. The Hall was always attractively decorated for enjoyment. Often there were rentals for birthday parties, family events or Christmas events and bazaars.
The Hall is a designated No Alcohol, No Smoking and No Vaping building. The Club has their own insurance, cleaning, hydro, payments etc. etc. Other than major upkeep, the Club looks after all the rest such as painting, and that was done maybe 6 years ago when the kitchen was brightened up with painting the cupboards and walls white, and this was all done by the members.
For all these reasons and a multitude more the seniors of this area need their own building to be renovated and kept. They DESERVE this! The demolition will cost double the cost of renovations.
Bonnie Ashcroft,
Lion’s Head
