Community Commons capital campaign reaches $200,000 as committee calls on residents to help bring project to life
By Galen Simmons
With roughly $200,000 already raised toward its $1-million fundraising goal, the committee tasked with supporting the transformation of 14 Church St. N. into an intergenerational community and cultural hub, the Community Commons, is calling on St. Marys residents to help make the long-term vision a reality.
The Community Commons capital campaign committee hosted an open house at the former Mercury Theatre building Oct. 24, inviting residents inside to learn more about the project, its potential benefits and how they can contribute.
“We are doing well. We’re at about $200,000,” said St. Marys Public Library CEO Sarah Andrews, who is helping lead the campaign. “We have two donors who are going to purchase naming rights coming forward after the election and maybe some more.”
The campaign aims to raise $1 million through community donations and grants to offset the estimated $3.73-million cost of renovating and outfitting the building.
The town’s funding strategy also includes development charges, existing reserves and borrowing, with the goal of completing the project without requiring additional tax-levy increases.
For Andrews, the Community Commons represents an opportunity to address a longstanding shortage of public programming space in St. Marys, particularly at the library, which has not expanded in four decades.
“It’s going to allow us to grow some of the important services we’re offering, like the Makerspace, where we’re packed into the library right now,” Andrews said. “It triples the space we have, lets us offer some new things to the community for skill building, development, fun.”
Beyond the library, the Community Commons is envisioned as a shared gathering and programming space for residents of all ages, with opportunities for youth activities, adult learning, seniors’ programming and community organizations.
Capital campaign committee chair Colin Coburn said the response from local businesses approached for donations has been encouraging, and the committee is preparing to broaden its efforts to include residents, families and schools.
“The community itself, we were hoping to start approaching the residents and the kids because we want this to be a community project,” Coburn said, suggesting students could organize fundraisers through their classrooms or schools.
Andrews said the committee is encouraging residents, particularly young people, to organize fundraisers ahead of Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1.
One of the project’s priorities is creating more opportunities for youth and teenagers, including expanded Makerspace activities, video games and other programming.
Coburn also hopes to establish a working group involving the St. Marys DCVI student council, giving local teenagers an opportunity to help shape the activities and programming offered in the new space.
Andrews encouraged young people interested in participating to speak with her at the library.
For Coburn, the Community Commons name reflects the broader purpose of the project.
“It wasn’t the library extension. It wasn’t the town hall extension. It’s the Community Commons,” he said.
Donations of any size are welcome, from $25 contributions to larger commitments that could include naming rights for rooms within the building.
Residents interested in donating, volunteering or helping shape the project are encouraged to contact Andrews at the St. Marys Public Library by emailing sandrews@stmaryspubliclibrary.ca.
Editor’s note: The author of this article is also a member of the Community Commons capital campaign committee.
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