Centre Lac-Brome has a newly renovated community kitchen as a result of a collaboration between the Town of Brome Lake and its Wellness Volunteer group (\u201cWellness\u201d). The idea to renovate the kitchen came about two years ago when the town\u2019s director of leisure, tourism, culture, and community life Cynthia Brunelle, who is currently on leave and is being replaced by Martin Lussier, approached Wellness to be the project\u2019s sponsor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came to an agreement with the community centre and the town, of course they\u2019re all basically one, that we would be the sponsor,\u201d said Gib Rotherman, director of Wellness. \u201cSo, we did the paperwork and eventually the work was done. There was Martin and Cynthia organizing several people to come in and put in new tops for the kitchen, various things, cupboards, the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The renovations took about six months to complete.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt worked out well and we had a terrific relationship not only with Martin, but with Cynthia. I can remember the first meeting we had with Cynthia, which was about two years ago; I had several directors with me because at the time I was president, and we told Cynthia we thought this was a great idea,\u201d added Rotherman.<\/p>\n
It was the group\u2019s established relationship with Centre Lac-Brome that made its involvement in the project a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a wonderful relationship with the community centre. Our organization has been going now for over 35 years, we started in 1987. We have all our meetings here, we put on big lunches here - in some cases we have up to 225 people. We do that three times a year, and then we also put on what we call a \u2018Christmas tea\u2019 before Christmas,\u201d noted Rotherman.<\/p>\n
The renovated kitchen space is available to any groups, organizations, and citizens that are interested in using the space. Activities and programs will also be coordinated for the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoanne Nowak, who is involved in these types of programs, she is planning a community kitchen, so she will set up a few things with people who want to cook together,\u201d mentioned Lussier, interim director for leisure, tourism, culture, and community life for the town. \u201cWe want to plan different activities for seniors and kids too, so maybe with the day camp they can use the community kitchen in the summer. It\u2019s really for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n