HARRISTON – The Harriston Legion branch has launched an appeal for contributions to assist with the cost of repairing the accessibility lift (elevator) in their building.
Branch 296 president Hugh Clunas told the Community News the lift, originally installed in the branch’s Elora Street facility in 1985, has been out of commission for about two years after the motherboard for the control system failed.
Although there were few activities going on at the time due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, a contractor was engaged in an attempt to repair the lift, but found parts impossible to get, or even recreate, due to the age of the equipment.
“The company that put it in is no longer around,” said Clunas.
Since its now a matter of basically replacing most components of the lift, it must be brought up to existing safety and accessibility codes.
“It needs to be wider. The doors have to widen. It has to be a total revamp because of codes,” notes branch manager Flo Van Meer.
A new carriage will be needed to match the wider doors and a concrete shaft will replace the existing wooden shaft to meet current fire codes.
Van Meer points out the need for wider doors and carriage is largely prompted by the need to carry wider, self-propelled wheelchairs in use today.
All told, Legion officials estimate the project could cost more than $132,000.
Clunas said some of the funds, around half, are already in place thanks to contributions from the Town of Minto, the Harriston Kinsmen Club and some donations from individuals.
In addition, the Harriston Legion Ladies Auxiliary has hosted some dinners to raise funds for the elevator project and the organization can use a small portion of funds raised through it’s popular Catch the Ace lottery.
Clunas notes Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulations require the bulk of the funds from Catch the Ace be used for community betterment projects.
“We have some funding in place. And we have enough right now to initiate it. And all those funds will go directly to the elevator, not anything else. And if, God willing there is a surplus, that money would be returned to where it came from,” Clunas stated.
With so many of the community’s larger events held in the Legion’s upstairs hall (the club also has a smaller hall available at ground level) Clunas said the lift is vital to operations.
“Anyone who’s going to use the hall in any way, shape or form, if you have a mobility issue, you’re just not going to be able to get there,” he points out.
“And Remembrance Day is a big one because we have a lot of older people,” Van Meer noted. “And they use that (the lift) to go upstairs, because we do our wreaths inside so they don’t have to be outside,” she added.
Van Meer points out the accessibility issue has prevented some people from attending events like funeral lunches and other functions held on the upper floor.
Clunas notes that in addition to transporting patrons to upstairs events, the lift aids Legion and auxiliary members in moving supplies to and from the second floor kitchen.
“That’s a side bonus of it … It is important to us. But that’s not the primary reason for the lift,” Clunas stressed. “The primary reason is inclusion of anybody with mobility issues.”
Although the local branch regularly raises funds to support Legion national, provincial and local causes, they generally only retain what’s needed to keep programs going.
“Every time we get some (money) we pretty much give away everything. And the only part we keep is so we can re-establish that (program) again,” notes Van Meer.
However, as Clunas points out, “Now we’re at the point, if we can’t help ourselves, how can we help somebody else?”
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Harriston Legion lift fund is urged to contact Van Meer at (519) 338-2843 or drop into the branch when it is open to arrange a donation.
