Thorndale Lions deliver proposal for local community centre

By Nancy Abra

At the Thames Centre council meeting Nov. 18, Thorndale Lions member Norm Jary gave a presentation on behalf of the club about a proposal to expand the Thorndale Lions Community Centre.

In his presentation, Jary explained the community centre is the heart of Thorndale and surrounding area and, as the community is growing, more space is needed to facilitate more types of both public and private gatherings. This proposed expansion to the south of the existing community centre would include a new hall with a fixed stage, storage area, enlarged kitchen and more parking spots.

Jary also said this expansion would provide more recreation time in the existing gym and allow more social events such as church dinners, children’s summer camps, community theatre and weddings in the new hall.

As for funding for this project, there is a little more than $480,000 left over from money generated from community fundraising and earmarked exclusively for the Thorndale Community Centre, which officially opened in September 2021.

In support of the Thorndale Community Centre expansion proposal, some members of the Lions Club were in attendance along with stakeholders from Thorndale Optimist Club, Thorndale Agricultural Society and I Love Thorndale.

Moved by Coun. Tom Heeman and seconded by Coun. Chantel Crocket, council approved establishment of an ad-hoc committee for the expansion of the Thorndale Community Centre with the goals of consulting on a design of a future expansion that would include a new hall with a stage, expanded kitchen areas. Staff was also directed to draft terms of reference for a committee that will be brought back to council at a meeting in the new year.