Alnwick/Haldimand Township council addressed some recommendations from its Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee at Tuesday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, including the future of the Fenella Community Hall.
One of the recommendations was for council to direct staff to hold a public meeting in 2025 at the Fenella Community Hall to discuss the future of the building including repurposing or decommission and that local residents and user groups be notified.
A report stated committee members undertook a self-guided tour of the facility and there were major concerns with accessibility. It was noted that “the upstairs kitchen space is outstanding and could be promoted for rental, currently the issue for renters is the lack of storage.”
Committee members noted “the facility is wonderful and grossly underutilized” and the report added “the proximity to the new Alderville Community Centre and Alnwick Civic Centre is detrimental and the facility has been sitting for a long time.”
Councillor Mike Ainsworth, who sits on the committee, said there are discussions that need to be had, even if they might be unpopular.
Deputy Mayor Joan Stover agreed the conversations will be difficult because residents are tied to their community centres.
“Is there any way of encompassing this further rather than piecemailing this community centre, piecemailing that one, piecemailing this one?” she said.
Councillor Mary Catherine O’Neill, who also sits on the committee, said it’s included in the township’s Parks Master Plan and discussion dates back to 2014. She said council also decided in its first year against a new roof for the Fenella facility due to the expense and uncertainty.
“It will be a difficult discussion,” O’Neill said, and noted the hall has been of social importance to the community. “Sometimes times change and the word repurposing comes from members of that community so I think they understand that this is a difficult time…and there’s already some grieving going on because it isn’t the facility that it used to be and it’s not the heart of the community that it was.”
Mayor John Logel said he thinks they need to move forward and that the public meeting should be held.
That motion was carried.
Other recommendations around the Nawautin Nature Sanctuary, Sandy Bay park and boat launch were referred to 2026 budget deliberations.
Author: Pete Fisher
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