Steinbach Community Foundation joins push for active living centre addition

The Steinbach Community Foundation has joined in the effort to raise funds for the Pat Porter Active Living Centre.

At a wine and cheese event held at the centre on Nov. 20, Steinbach Community Foundation outlined why they decided to accept donations on behalf of the centre.

Foundation board chair, Mary Jane Hiebert, said membership has soared at the Active Living Centre, rising 150 percent since 2019, and since 2021 attendance has risen 200 percent and program growth has reached 250 percent.

“The need for expansion is real,” she said. “Every single inch of space is in use. There is simply no more room to grow in that the lack of space is now putting pressure on existing programs and that means eventually something may need to give.”

The Pat Porter Active Living Centre is planning a $3 million expansion to address space concerns.

That will include a new two-storey wing on the east side of the building.

The main floor will be 4,762 sq. ft. and includes seven new individual washrooms, five office spaces, storage for wheelchairs and walkers and a 1,500 sq. ft. wellness room.

The second floor, at 4,382 sq. ft. includes seven new individual bathrooms, eight office spaces, storage and a 1,400 sq. ft. room that can be rented or leased.

Hiebert said $3 million sounds like a lot of money for any one person but said it’s doable if 1,000 people gave $3,000 each, or 2,000 people gave $1,500 each or 6,000 people gave $500 each.

“When we look at it this way the goal becomes attainable, achievable, something we can accomplish together,” she said. “And when we do, no service needs to be turned away, no group need to be moved out and this centre can continue to grow, serve and thrive and become a lasting treasure for our community and our region.”