Elliot Lake’s Renaissance Seniors’ Centre has weathered a difficult financial year, according to the centre’s president Gail Crawford.
Crawford made a presentation on the centre’s finances and programs to City Council at its Dec. 11 meeting.
“At the beginning of the year, we were struggling financially having spent $92,000 in 2016 for necessary repairs to our aging building and equipment,” Crawford told council. “The Board of Directors had to take some hard measures to get back on a good financial footing. From having volunteers replace staff members for the summer months, to increasing program user fees, to name a few, we have managed to increase our operating budget significantly.”
The Ren Centre received a $25,000 grant last year from the city and has applied for a similar grant this year. Crawford thanked council for its ongoing support of the centre and its 478 members.
“Because you support the senior population of Elliot Lake and surrounding areas by providing us with grant dollars, we are able to leverage a repair and maintenance grant from the Ministry of Seniors’ Affairs as well as dollars for special grants to upgrade equipment in our gym, kitchen and clubroom. Without these grants, we would not be able to keep our membership fees and user fees at an affordable cost for all seniors and perhaps lose the ability to keep our doors open.”
This year, the centre plans to upgrade the second floor of its facility at 2 Veteran’s Way to make it fully accessible. A grant application has been made to the Trillium Foundation for $71,875 and, if successful, would be able to pay out the remaining 25 per cent as its portion of the full grant or $17,968. Crawford said the board hopes to have the work completed by March 31.