By Jennifer Quam

McBride Village Councillor Rick Thompson said work continues to happen on the Community Hall aiming to have the hall completed for McBride’s 75th Anniversary celebration slated for the August long weekend.

“The gyprock is up and is just about finished,” said Thompson. “The mudding and taping is happening and all the electrical and plumbing work is completed.”

Thompson said there are no activities planned to happen in the hall during the 75th Anniversary weekend but the hope is to have the building completed and open to residents and visitors to view.

Community Hall Society Chair Len Downing said the committee is in desperate need of more donations. The Society is responsible for gathering enough funds to pay for the dance floor within the hall, a floor estimated to cost $75,000.

“It is about that time when we need to be ordering the floor and there is no way we can do that until we get enough money,” said Downing.

The Society has raised approximately $34,000 to date.

Downing explained that everything has been built in the hall to accommodate the floor.

“Waiting to get the flooring will hold up the opening of the building.”

Downing said he has spoken to many people who said they have been thinking about donating to the floor fund but have been holding back. Downing wants to encourage people to come forward now.

“I think there is still a lot of negativity out there because it has taken so long for the building to come together and because of the cost over run. I believe some people feel there is no accountability either,” said Downing. “I just want say to people that they need to be positive and realize that this is going to be everyone’s hall and people need to come forward to help.”

Downing said that in addition to the cost of the floor, the society would then be responsible for collecting close to $60,000 to purchase kitchen equipment for the hall.

Want to donate call Len Downing, Sherry Wiltise, or Nadine Shovar.