The Parksville Community Centre Society (PCCS) will have to wait to hear if Parksville city council will provide them with a letter of support.
At the Monday, April 11, regular city council meeting, Coun. Doug O’Brien made a motion for council to approve the PCCS request for a letter of support from the city for their efforts to convert the facility at 223 Mills St. into a new community centre.
The request was made through a letter addressed to council, dated March 10, 2022, signed by PCCS president Duane Round.
“As you know, the society operated successfully the centre at 132 Jensen Ave. on behalf of the city for many years as a non-profit society,” said O’Brien as he read the PCCS letter to council. “Our goal is to once again host a broad range of events, including business meetings, trade shows, educational seminars, sporting events, club gatherings, cultural events and concerts in Parksville… The board’s mandate is to ensure the centre continues to drive social and economic activity within the local community and encourage participation from all sectors public, private, business and government… We are not asking for any financial assistance from the City of Parksville, simply a support letter that we can use to apply for grant funding.”
READ MORE: Parksville Community Centre Society excited about new Mills Street facility
During the discussion period, concern was noted about having the 223 Mills St. facility retain the name ‘Parksville Community Centre’, as it is already the name of the 132 Jensen Ave. facility.
“Nobody ever gave them this name,” said Mayor Ed Mayne, who also commented on possible confusion emergency services might have when dispatched.
“There are still outstanding issues that must be satisfactorily settled before we even think about the request,” he said.
“I think that this is a step towards mending some relationships, I’m going to be honest with that,” said Coun. Teresa Patterson. “I know that we have a long ways to go and these are good people.”
Coun. Adam Fras moved to defer the request until “all legal matters have been concluded”, which was seconded by Coun. Al Greir.
Mayne, Fras, Greir and Coun. Mark Chandler voted in favour to defer the PCCS request, with Coun. Marilyn Wilson, Patterson and O’Brien opposed.