Hope Centre Set for New Year Launch
The chairs arrived yesterday — well, most of them — the last things needed to finally open the Hope Centre.
Hope Centre, on Church Street in Pugwash, is the vision of Bill Martin, the former Pastor of Pugwash Baptist Church.
It has been six years in the making, delayed largely by COVID and a shortage of funds to make the necessary repairs to a building constructed in 1860.
A sign erected on the front lawn was flattened by Hurricane Fiona, a sign of the struggles faced by the development. The sign has rested comfortably against the side of the building ever since. Martin said, “We decided to leave it there until we are ready to go this time. It only made people ask questions, chief of which always included when will you open?”
The when has now been narrowed to this month, like a New Year’s resolution.
Hope Centre is more than a building, it is a concept. You could call it a “mini community centre” with space for programs and community activities. Some may assume that, as a ministry, it must be faith based, but that is not entirely true. Don’t think of it as a centre run for Christians, but as a community centre run by Christians.
It is the home for Six Rivers News and Radio, run with that same philosophy.
Hope Centre has a large Community Room which will host a variety of events, everything from concerts, meetings, news conferences, seniors, youth, and children’s programs.
The Community Room can seat thirty for functions, including meals. It is also equipped with a state-of-the-art video conferencing system for groups wanting to connect with others via Zoom, Team Meetings, etc. A top notch Bose sound system will allow concert recordings to be re-played on Six Rivers Radio.
Guinea pigs who tested the facility include the local doctor search committee which meets simultaneously in person and via Zoom. A church discussion group does the same, weekly, and has grown to seven around the table with another seven from across the province.
The facilities and events are intended to be no-charge, though donations are greatly appreciated. Concerts may be an exception, depending on the needs of the artists.
There will be an emphasis to meet the needs of seniors and children. For example, Hope Centre proposes an after school program for kids from the Cyrus Eaton Elementary School — right across the street. The program would be open to those children who go home to an empty house, waiting for mom or dad to come home from work.
Known as latch-key kids, Hope Centre would offer a safe and comfortable place for a nutritious daily snack along with supervised activities Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.
The after-school idea has been discussed over the last eight years but failed to find sufficient volunteers to run the program.
For more information on programs, bookings, or especially volunteering, please contact Bill Martin: at 902-614-3000 or email bill@hopecentre.ca.
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