– an update September 27th 2002 by Bob Rice

The Campaign for the Seniors Centre - with a minimum objective of $750,000 - is spearheaded by a team of community leaders headed by Duncan Sinclair, who retired in 1996 as Dean of Medicine and Vice-Principal for Health Services at Queen's University, and his wife, Leona Sinclair, an active volunteer in many Kingston services.

In launching the fund-raising drive at a public meeting at the new Seniors Centre, Seniors Association President John Purkis announced that more than $400,000 has already been pledged by his Board of Directors, staff and volunteers as well as by Kingston charitable foundations, individuals and businesses.

"With the help and support of the entire Kingston community - businesses, merchants, organizations and individuals - we know that we'll get the rest," he said. "We are making a dream come true - having a place of our own, with lots of room for the services and activities that can help make growing older a healthy, enjoyable and satisfying experience."

With the financial support of the community, John Purkis said work will proceed on the second and third phases of the three-year project to renovate, repair, re-decorate and re-equip the former classrooms of the school.

In endorsing the campaign, Flora MacDonald, co-chair of the United Nations Year of the Older Person and honorary patron of the Campaign, paid tribute to the special political achievement represented by the new Seniors Centre - a joint venture of the City of Kingston and the Seniors Association.

"Most other cities of our size own and operate their own seniors Centre, with seniors having a passive role as users of a city-provided service," she said. "But here in Kingston, the City and its seniors joined forces in a unique joint venture whereby the City acquired the building and then turned it over to the Seniors Association to be used as a community-based Centre."

She urged all Kingstonians to show their support for a community that respects its elders, taps their vitality and enhances their health by contributing generously to the Campaign.

Working with the Sinclair's in the Campaign Cabinet are Ron and Susan Southward, co-chairs of the Leadership Division; Sylvia Burkinshaw and Don Neil, co-chairs of the Family Division; Gary and Cheryl-Anne Bennett, co-chairs of the Community Division; Sally Barnes and Bob Rice, communications co-chairs, and Diane Luck, executive director of the Seniors Association. They are supported by a 14-person campaign steering committee headed by Sylvia Burkinshaw.

Now that the Campaign for the Seniors Centre has been officially launched, former Kingston Mayor Gary Bennett and his wife, Cheryl-Anne Bennett, "will swing into high gear" to gain widespread financial support from the community, said Leona Sinclair.

"Gary and Cheryl-Anne, with your leadership we are going to meet and exceed our target in the Kingston regional community," she said.

Reporting to the public meeting on the status of the campaign, Duncan Sinclair announced that the campaign pace was set even before the official launch by a number of generous donations -

$75,000 from the Davies Family Foundation,

$75,000 from Dupont Canada,

$75,000 from Alcan,

$30,000 from the Empire Financial Group and

$25,000 from Homestead Land Holdings,

plus more than $155,000 from the board of directors, volunteers and staff of the Seniors Association.

"With the generous support of pacesetters like these, as well as from our great family of committed staff and volunteers, and the community of Kingston and the surrounding region, I am sure the Campaign for the Seniors Centre is going to go over the top," he said.

Following the formal part of the occasion members, guests and visitors enjoyed a coffee break in our new Rendezvous Cafe.

New entry doors are in! And the front entrance is now wheelchair accessible.

The space between the end of the railing and the building has been left to accommodate a Memorial Garden. We will attempt to have some earth dumped to reduce the incline, but we have to have access to the hose outlet, which is about four feet below grade.

A trial run of the ponds will be carried out before freezing weather arrives and then the ponds will be drained for the winter.

Lighting fixtures are expected any day so that the entranceway can be properly lighted during the evening hours.

When all the above has been completed, our entranceway will finally be accessible to all of our members, and below budget!

There has been a considerable delay in this part of the renovations! The city decided that converting the two classrooms into a dining room and kitchen was a major change in space usage and required us to present architect’s drawings, and electrical/mechanical drawings before they would issue a building permit. These were provided, and the electrical work carried out according to specs, but a further delay took place until the electrical inspector could determine that the drawings had been followed and that all the wiring was according to code. Then there was the plumbing certificates, approval from the KFLA health department, ordering of appliances and installation of cupboards.

The building permit has been received, and work on the windows, doors, ceiling and floors are underway.

Due to a few of the time delays we have experienced, we believe that the dining room/kitchen should be ready before Christmas. But all continues to move forward, and please remember that with any major renovation job-things don’t always fall into place as initially planned.

Below left shows the new dining area in the foreground with kitchen door and serving hatch at rear. The right photo is the view from the kitchen door. Note the cement work on the floor shows where the original class wall has been removed.

Stay posted, and check in for future updates!