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Battlefords Trade and Education Centre staff and visitors excited for new building

May 18, 2016 | 12:00 PM

Battlefords Trade and Education Centre (BTEC) staff and participants have been eagerly watching their new building take shape.

Executive director Mona Leece said the building is on schedule to be finished in August and everyone is excited to move in the fall. She said they’re looking forward to inviting the community to see what their donations have helped build.

“We were recently in the building for a tour,” she said, “It looks fabulous. It’s bright, it’s got windows, and it’s warm.”

BTEC is an activity centre for adults with developmental disabilities. Some of their activities include volunteering, playing games and making art. The building they work out of now is dated and doesn’t meet their needs, so BTEC held a huge fundraiser for the new building and construction started almost a year ago.

Some of the biggest changes for the new building will be better heating and air conditioning, larger spaces for activities, including a patio and yard, and one floor throughout. The building they’re in now has two floors, which is a problem for people with less mobility or vision problems.

Jennifer O’Hanlon, who’s been going to BTEC for five years, said she can’t wait to make the move.

“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “I can’t wait because we drive by there sometimes, almost every other day, and I see how the progress is coming and I’m like ‘yes. I just love it,’” she said.

O’Hanlon said she’s most excited for the new art room, because she loves to paint and participates in the art show every year. She said staff are providing lots of updates about the building’s progress to her and the other participants.

Leece said the participants were consulted during the planning of the building, so they’ve included some of their “dreams and wants” in the blueprints.

Although there is progress on construction, Leece said fundraising isn’t over and they’re still relying on the support of the community to furnish the new building. With BTEC turning 50 next year, she and O’Hanlon both said they can’t thank the community enough for all their support.

 

Sarah.rae@jpbg.ca

@sarahjeanrae