The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is set to start renovations, which will make their hall accessible for everyone.
The accessibility issue was on their mind for a long time, however, it wasn't on the agenda until recently due to a lack of funds. The opportunity came up recently when they first were able to secure $25,000 from the province and then topped it up with another $29,000 from the federal government.
"We were successful in getting a grant through the provincial government with $1.5 million in the veterans' organizations, to make improvements. We were successful in getting a grant of $25,000 to put in a wheelchair accessibility ramp and likely a door and do some modifications to our building to make it usable or more usable for people with disabilities," explained Jim (Frosty) Forrest, who is the president of the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The project was originally evaluated at about $45,000, however, with prices of lumber and other materials going up, in July 2021 it would cost the legion over $50,000 to build a ramp and put in new electric doors. Fortunately, the legion found a way to still get the project done.
"We did apply for a second grant, and that was the big news yesterday (July 13), we've got a second grant for $29,000. It will allow us to completely pay for this without having to use truck raffle funds, and so on. So we can still donate money to the community and (the grants will help us) get our building more accessible," Forrest said.
Now the legion has enough funds to cover the entire project without dipping into their donation funds, secured for the community needs, and they hope the construction will start shortly.
The plans have already been made and approved, and the legion found local contractors that will complete the work.
A powered door will open to the ramp, which will be about 20 feet long. It will come out of the front door and run along the southeast side of the building. It will have guardrails, and everything else needed to be entirely up to code for wheelchair accessibility.
There also will be some changes inside the legion hall.
"We're going to lower our step slightly. For some reason, we don't really know why, when this was all built the step was built two inches higher than the floor inside the hall. It was always a problem with that as we were worried about the trip hazard. So as they do this, they are going to lower that, lower our doors down. So overall it will be way easier to use," Forrest explained.
He added that they hope to see the project starting as soon as possible. Once it's rolling, it should take about four weeks to be completed.
In the meantime, the legion hall is available for rent and the club room is happy to welcome guests again. Pool tables and shuffleboards are open now and they will also be hosting different events and activities throughout summer.
"I'd really like to welcome people back. We're hosting some events coming up. Bingos are starting over … Where we're going to be getting back to something that resembles normal," Forrest said.
If people have any questions, or if they want to rent a hall, they can contact the legion at 306-634-3135.
