Comox Mayor Paul Ives, flanked by Comox Seniors' Association vice-president Dave Grant and Comox Rotary president Tim Cowan, happily cut the ribbon at d鈥橢sterre鈥檚 House's open house June 19.
They officially welcomed the community to the gleaming renovations of d鈥橢sterre Ballroom.
It only took 10 weeks, and generous donations to Comox Seniors Association from Gordon Pritchard and Fred Fester for the interior work. The Town of Comox contributed a significant outlay of funds to upgrade the exterior and the lighting, heating, flooring, ventilation and windows to today鈥檚 environmental standards.
The planning took about a year: Holly Grant, Comox Rotary president-in-waiting, suggested that d鈥橢sterre House ballroom needed a facelift 鈥� something which some Seniors Association members had been saying for years. Then, the thinking, planning and negotiating began among members of Comox Rotary and Comox Seniors Association, and later, the Town of Comox who owns the property.
Mayor Paul Ives and Comox Town Council were very supportive and so a triple partnership began, with the building committee formed from the three sectors.
Rotarians rolled up their collective sleeves and, doing a 鈥楳ike Holmes,鈥� gutted the old ballroom. They worked evenings and weekends clearing up the mess to give each of the different trades a clean workspace. This was repeated after each phase.
Tom Grant, Rotarian and active community volunteer, acting as general contractor, kept the tradesmen working like a well-organized relay, on schedule and within budget. In addition, the Rotary donated the modern sound system.
John Barrett redesigned the enlarged space to create improved equipment storage and add a media control room to house the Rotary-donated equipment. He used his master craftsman skills to produce custom quality with the help of d鈥橢sterre members.
After 10 weeks of focussed teamwork, the transformation is complete and the new ballroom is revealed like a beautiful butterfly emerging to the delight of all. Those who worked their magic have reason to feel proud.
The strong healthy partnership 鈥� Town, Rotary and seniors 鈥� made the whole thing work. Elegant d鈥橢sterre Ballrooom is now the gem of Comox and home to a myriad activities.
For information, visit www.comoxseniors.ca or call 250-339-5133 for information Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Better still, come in person to 1801 Beaufort Ave, and be part of this jewel by the ocean.
鈥� Comox Seniors' Association
