Encana donation boosts Standard Hall Project

Posted on: Staff Writer

Manny Everett
Times Contributor
 
The Standard Community Hall Building Committee is $50,000 closer to making the new building a reality thanks to a generous donation from Encana on May 11, bringing the total of funds raised for the project to $1,103,254.
The cost of the new hall is estimated at $2.6 million. With the blueprints completed, the Hall Building Committee hopes to tender the project in 2012.
Encana Community Relations Advisor Luigi Vescarelli presented the cheque to Building Committee chair Ron Corbiel at a meeting last week in Standard. This donation brings the total of contributions Encana has made to the project through their Community Investment Program to $150,000. 
In addition to donations like Encana’s, the Hall Building Committee has been hard at work with organizing and sponsoring various fundraisers and projects over the last couple of years, raising funds to replace the existing hall with a new facility at another location in the village.
Recent fundraising for this project include raffles, silent auctions, the very successful bottle and battery drive for a total of $30,855.  Additionally $21,657 in provincial government funding from the Community Spirit Program, the first of their government grants has been received.
There’s still a ways to go, which means there is a full slate of events planned for the coming months to help raise the remainder of the funds.
Upcoming events to watch for include Marilyn Olsen’s Trance Tricks Hypnosis Show at the Community hall June 1.  Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
The Gigantic Community Garage Sale Under One Roof is happening on Standard Sports Day June 25 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Pie and coffee will be served, and enlarged historical Standard photos will be for sale. Many people are spring cleaning and others are itching to come out and look for treasures.
The Committee is also hosting a Come and ‘Raise a Little Hall’ Golf Tournament and Silent Auction Friday July 15 at the Bassano Golf Course. Prime rib supper and many prizes are included.  The supper is available for non-golfers, and they will gratefully accept silent auction items.  Entry forms are available at Gates Agencies in Standard.
Every day for the month of August there will be  a Calendar Draw with $2,350 in prizes and only 499 tickets sold. Tickets can be purchased at Gates Agencies.