The Eden Mills Community Hall has received a $118,770 grant through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program for upgrades.
The Eden Mills and District Community Club made the announcement on June 25 at the Remembering Peter Appleyard concert.
The funding will be put towards the club’s ongoing energy-retrofit of the hall as well as technical, electrical and accessibility upgrades.
This project is part of an ongoing initiative to make Eden Mills carbon-neutral.
Richard Lay, board member of the Eden Mills and District Community Club, said since 2012, the hall’s emissions have been reduced by 64 per cent through insulation of the ceiling, upgrades to windows and doors and other upgrades.
“With the Canada 150 contribution we will now be able to complete the insulation of the walls, and reduce emissions by another estimated 20%, to a total of 84%,” said Lay.
“The 150th anniversary of Confederation is a time to celebrate the places across this great country that unite and connect us,” stated Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario Navdeep Bains.
“The Eden Mills Community Hall is an important example of a space that brings Canadians together and will remain the cornerstone of activities in the area for years.”
Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong congratulated the crowd at the concert.
“On this 150th, it’s apropos that we renew a community institution like this,” he said.
Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White said the grant was a “good leg up” for the community
“It’s these types of partnerships that go all the way from the grassroots all the way up to the federal government that makes this such a great community,” he said.
Lay said the concert also marks the official launch of the campaign to match the government’s grant.
Remembering Peter Appleyard
The June 25 concert held at the hall was to mark four years since the passing of jazz musician and Eden Mills resident Peter Appleyard.
Appleyard also participated in the Eden Mills going carbon-neutral initiative.
“It was people like Peter Appleyard and many of you in this room that started to put your shoulders to the wheel to make this a real community here in the south part of Wellington County,” said Chong.
The concert was performed by John Sherwood on piano, Dave Young on bass and Terry Clarke on drums.
