BONNYVILLE – Piece by piece, the expansion of the Bonnyville Friendship Centre is being built from the wintery ground.
After years of planning, a federal grant provided by the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) – Major Infrastructure program has made it possible for the local Friendship Centre to expand the organization’s physical footprint to match its growing services.
A ground-breaking ceremony took place on April 8 after Friendship Centre staff were informed they had been selected as one of the recipients for the 2021-22 major infrastructure grant.
It was not until late fall that construction crews began excavating the site.
“We cannot wait until it's completed. We have been short on space in regard to staff and with the programming that we are doing. So, we' are really looking forward to that new space,” said Janet Gobert, the centre’s community initiatives coordinator.
The grant stipulates that the construction of the new facility must start and be completed within one year of receiving the federal funds.
“We are totally on track,” Gobert told Lakeland This Week. “GenMec ACL is doing an excellent job keeping us informed on the project.”
Eventually, crews will be opening the front and back of the main building to tie the current structure to the new addition.
The Friendship Centre’s Food Bank and community programs have and will remain open throughout the construction phase, said Gobert.
The plans and blueprints for the centre’s expansion were previously designed by GenMec and financed by the Government of Alberta.
Once completed, the expansion and retrofit will grow the current facility to 320 Sq. metres (3,444 Sq. ft) along the Town of Bonnyville’s main street.
The Government of Canada has committed to providing $53 million each year to UPIP for five years, beginning in 2017-2018, according to the federal government’s website.
