The Milton Community Centre kitchen is getting a facelift.

They’ve just received $20,000 from the province’s Community Facilities Improvement Program to bring the space up to date.

The renovations will include moving a handwashing sink from the back of the kitchen to the door as you come in, new electrical and plumbing, new floors, removing an island and refinishing the existing cupboard doors.

Milton Community Association president Billy Joudrey said the centre is a hub of community activity dating back to its construction in the 1950s.

“The hall was actually built for cadets and scouts, cubs, brownies, girl guides and stuff to use, free. They help us with suppers and they have free use of the hall,” said Joudrey.

In addition to those groups, the centre also hosts bingo games, trivia nights, dances, wedding receptions and many more events throughout the year.

Joudrey said it would’ve been tough to do the renovations considering the pandemic.

“We’re hoping to get some more things coming in because the bills are adding up and the money’s not coming in,” said Joudrey. “I know all community halls are really suffering.”

It’s not all doom and gloom according to Joudrey, as they have seen an uptick in bookings as some pandemic restrictions have been eased. He said they have every weekend booked from now until the end of December.

“We’re going to be doing another supper, we’ll be doing Christmas supper, we’re going to have our tree lighting and we have a Christmas craft show coming up the first Sunday in December.”

One of the conditions of the provincial grant is that all the renovation work must be completed by December 31 and Joudrey is confident they’ll be able to host functions and work around the mess.

“We probably may end up having to shut the kitchen down for a few smaller events, maybe a bingo,” said Joudrey. “We may just have to do some minor stuff instead of our fries but they’ll understand, especially when they see the kitchen is going to be renovated, updated and more efficient.”

Joudrey said they have their contractors lined up and expects the renovations to begin very soon.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson