Tolstoi Heritage Centre annex project hits first fundraising goal

Phase one of the Tolstoi Heritage Centre annex project is nearly completed, thanks to continued support and fundraising.

The board hosted the final day of a series of Sunday summer openings at the heritage centre for 2026. They hosted an end of summer barbecue to raise funds for the ongoing project, celebrate what had been done and look ahead to the future.

Board member Jo-Anne Drewniak said the first phase of the $650,000 project saw the foundation laid for the annex, which is awaiting the installation of a holding tank and other finishes before winter.

Phase two will see the construction of the façade, while phase three will see the completion of the facility.

So far, $310,000 of the $650,000 goal has been raised.

“Our philosophy is as we started to fundraise, we had to put something out there in order for people to believe that we are doing something,” she said, adding local churches and halls have a tradition of being built and paid for with small donations.

“This is the same kind of concept,” she said.

The current Tolstoi Heritage Centre began life as the Tolstoi Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, erected by Polish immigrants in 1929.

After the church officially closed, the archdiocese agreed to sell the property to the local committee for $1 in 2011.

“We’re hoping to have this project fully done by 2029,” Drewniak said. “It would be the centennial.”

Like many churches of its time, the original building had no washrooms or running water.

The annex will have both of those things including a kitchen and an accessible way to enter the building. It will be connected to the original church via an indoor walkway.

The board also has the goal of preserving the history of the building.

To that end, they hired Integrity Designs to come up with a plan.

“The idea is the front of the new building will mirror the front of this building,” she said, pointing at the current structure.

Drewniak said they wanted something that looked attractive and reflected the history of the building and community.

While the population of Tolstoi is low, Drewniak said they consider the community a destination.

“The community itself only has 75 people, but people love coming out here and finding out the past, finding out their own family history,” she said.

With the new space they’ll be able to offer small concerts, movies, and with other community centre spaces even host conferences.

The project officially kicked off with shovels in the ground in fall of 2025. Rain delayed the first phase until this summer.

“It’s a slow process but we’re OK with slow because fundraising has to happen as we go along,” she said.

More efforts toward fundraising will continue as the board waits for phase two to begin next year with direct approaches for donations and other events.

The annual Christmas Market at the community centre will feature Christmas treats prepared by board members along with other vendors and perogies and cabbage rolls from community centre volunteers.

“We sell dainties,” she said. “We’re the queens of baking.”

Chase the ace happens every Friday evening at Elsie’s Hotel in Tolstoi as well.

In April, they will host their annual spaghetti supper fundraiser.

More information on how to support the project is available on their website at tolstoiheritage.ca.

Drewniak said the project seems to resonate with a lot of people.

“I think it’s a really worthwhile project because it not only brings something to the community, but it also honours the past and our families and the settlers of the area,” she said. “It’s a way to move forward in having another point of interest in southeastern Manitoba.”