Catching up with our community centre

Many associate the North Woodside Community Centre with the childcare program that operates there — but the centre is so much more. Kate Crane recently sat down with Debbie Meier, NWCC manager, to learn about the centre.

How did the Nov. 15 Kris Kringle Market go?

The holiday market this year was amazing. People were lined up all the way down the sidewalk, down the driveway. A lot of the crafters said they tripled their sales this year. Because our tables are only $15, this event is more about the community. We always want to promote a healthy community. It’s about getting people out. And the people just kept coming. We sold out our breakfast. All together, I think we sold 265 breakfasts. We had between 500 and 600 people come through the door. There were 85 vendors; we filled the whole building. Santa Claus was here; Becky Kent came as Mrs. Claus. Sam Austin and Claudia Chender were here, serving food.

Let’s talk about the history a bit. Tell me about this place.

Originally, it was a high school, just four rooms [started in 1934]. And then the population started to decrease, and they decided that the school was no longer needed. We fought to save it. We would come down and clean; we’d bring our kids. We’d clean the floors. We’d paint. We started the gardens out front. It became a project of love. And then from there we just kept growing and growing. And then we were able to get proper tenants. A lot of people over the years just kept coming and putting their heart and time into it.

**So how many programs do you have now? **

We have quite a few. We keep at least 40% of our space open for the community so people can come and run a birthday party, have meetings. We have external groups that run their own classes, and then we have our own programs, like yoga, Tai Chi, seniors’ fitness, music classes, and Pickleball. In summer, we run our summer camp.

What’s coming up in the next few months?

Our trivia night on March 27, which is a yearly event that people just love. A team of six is $30. And then summer comes along and we start all over again, and go into our spring flea market.

What should community residents know about the NWCC?

This is their community centre and that we’re here for them, and so if there’s any type of event they want run — if there are programs that they’d like to have, whether it be recreational educational — they should feel free to come in anytime and drop in to suggest them (or leave a message in the “NWCC Poll” box on the website). We’re always looking for helping hands, so if you have a free minute and you like to garden, come out and garden. We’re always looking for volunteers for our events to help with programs. Many hands make light work.

See the NWCC’s website for info on programs, classes and rentals: northwoodsidecc.com