The Agassiz Agricultural and Horticultural Association is $10,000 closer to getting new heating and cooling units for the Livestock Pavilion.
On Wednesday (Oct. 16), the Association received a $10,000 cheque from Farm Credit Canada to help pay for four new furnaces at the Livestock Pavilion.
“We’ve been told that they’re really on their last legs,” president Victoria Brookes said about the units.
“There’s actually six furnaces on the roof there. We’re not going to replace all of them,” Brookes said. “We’ve been told the new furnaces are more efficient, but we’ll have to replace four.”
In April of this year, the association partnered with the the District of Kent to apply for a $25,000 grant from Farm Credit Canada to replace the furnaces. The association estimates the replacement will cost more than $40,000, as each unit costs around $10,000.
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In April, the association said it had around $15,000 saved for the replacement of the units. Brookes said the association is continuing to raise money for the replacement, largely through the association’s Bingo nights, but also through some upcoming fundraisers.
“We’re having a fundraiser at the Sasquatch Inn next month, and we’ll be selling tickets for that … and we’ll have a silent auction,” Brookes said. “We’re looking at some other fundraisers, and possibly if we can get some other donations as well.”
The pavilion is used not only during the Agassiz Fall Fair for the 4H club, but also throughout the year for Bingo nights, men’s hockey, scouting events and the Agassiz Baseball Association’s winter practices.
“It’s well-used,” Brookes said, noting that the pavilion used to be a barn before it was turned into a quasi-recreation centre in the late 70s.
“It’s still used year-round for various activities, so it’s still an important building for the district,” she continued. “We want to maintain it.”
The association is hoping to replace all four furnaces at once, and is starting to look at official quotes for the replacement. Brookes said the association has about a year before the furnaces need to be replaced, although they are hoping it can happen sooner.
“It just depends on how the donations go,” she said.
grace.kennedy@ahobserver.com
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