The County of Brant says it has received its first major donation towards the construction of the new $5.1-million Cainsville community centre.
Brant Mayor David Bailey said the Donald and Jo-Anne Wilkin Fund, through the Brant Community Foundation, donated $150,000 toward the project.
“This is an incredible gift and we are so grateful for the investment in community,” he said in a news release.
In April, the county launched a $1.5-million fundraising campaign to offset the cost of the centre, which is being built at 15 Ewart Ave by Reid and Deleye Contractors Ltd.
Anne Marie Peirce, executive director of the community foundation, said that the Wilkin fund has benefited many worthy causes.
“And we are pleased to support the Cainsville community center through this fund,” she said. “The center will be a nexus for everyone as a central place to gather and connect with the community.”
Bailey said the community center will be a “much-needed space” for residents to gather.
“Bookings for the facility are already coming in for next year. The community clearly wants this space and we believe it will be very well utilized.”
The new center will accommodate up to 350 people.
The single-storey building will include a transformable community hall, a meeting room, spacious lobby and an outdoor covered patio.
The county said that the center will “blend with the natural environment and showcase sustainable design features, such as solar energy, energy efficient fixtures and equipment and electric car charging stations.
To learn more about the project or to make a donation, visit www.brant.ca/Cainsville or call the fundraising campaign director, Marilyn Campbell Davis, at 647-290-8500.