Farewell

Carol MacDonald lived and breathed the Westfort Community Centre.

She took her first steps on to the wooden flooring back in 1947 when she was about six years old. She lived just down the street from the corner of Sprague Street and Empire Avenue so she attended all the activities from the Girl Scout meetings to the square dances and movie nights.

But she said it was the family nights stood out the most for her.

She and her husband, Ken, attended the farewell flea market at the community centre on Saturday. It will be the last time the couple will set foot inside the 66-year-old building before it’s demolished.

City council voted to demolish the building in August after a structural review found the building needed too much work. City officials said the old building was long past the point of rehabilitated and a heavy snowfall could collapse the roof.

"It’s very sad in a way because this was my life," MacDonald said. "(My husband, Ken and I) were president and secretary for 24 years. I was also the rental officer and a cleaning lady. Our life was built around this centre. Now, it’s over…it’s gone."

MacDonald said she didn’t know if she would come to watch the demolition of the building because it might be too hard to see.

"I was brought up here," she said. "My parents use to come here and it was just part of my life. It was like going to school. You went everyday and we were here all the time."

MacDonald wasn’t alone in sharing fond memories at the community centre.

Marilyn Pereczky has lived across the street from the centre for more than 70 years. She said she remembered how fun it was to dance and do the acrobat competitions.

"The centre is very important to us," Pereczky said. "The centre was free. You didn’t always have money to go down to the royal show or whatever. You had a place to go that was comfortable. There was lots to do and it kept you busy and out of mischief."

Sherry Rickard, president of the Westfort Community Centre, said the closing ceremonies were to celebrate the 66 years of history. The flea market had about 14 residents selling their goods with some vendors planning to use the money raised to help families in Cuba.

Any money the community centre raised will be given to City of Thunder Bay P.R.O. Kids, she said.

While sad to see the community centre go, Rickard said it had served its purpose in the community as a place for families to go and spend time together.

"It’s just too hard to keep the building going," Rickard said. "It’s been difficult today. For me there are a lot of memories. My children were raised in this centre and they attended a lot of the programs. The joke was I should have a bed here because I spent so much time here."

Rickard said demolition could take place at the end of October or early November.