PRESS RELEASES

Civic Centre fundraisers near $2 million - Posted on 2008-09-12

ST. STEPHEN – Would you like to name the new Charlotte County Civic Centre?
“Just give us $500,000,” said Peter Heelis – and he’s not joking.
He and his wife, Norah Heelis, co-chairs of the $3.5-million fundraising campaign to build the new Charlotte County Civic Centre (CCCC) in St. Stephen, are very serious about meeting this goal.
“We’ve raised $1.8 million, putting us over the half-way mark,” said Peter, “and we’re rapidly closing in on the $2 million mark. That’s our objective right now. We are pushing towards that $2 million mark early in the fall, to make an announcement early in the fall and we are very optimistic that we will be on target with that announcement.”
The couple, who established Mayfield Gardens and operated it for about 25 years before selling it nearly two-and-a-half years ago, readily agreed to co-chair the public campaign.
They took turns speaking about why they’re fundraising and why St. Stephen needs a new civic centre.
“We built a business here and that’s one of the reasons we’re fundraising,” said Peter. “We have
been served well by this community and we’re giving a little bit back.”
“We’ve chosen to retire here after we sold the business,” said Norah. “We love this community.We’ve been to other places but we can’t think of any place better to live than here and we just want to make it better.”
“The only thing I need is a place in the winter, after I go skiing, where I can go for a swim, a walk and a coffee and I’ll be happy,” said Peter.
Work towards building a new $15- million civic centre consisting of a NHL-sized arena, a swimming pool, a walking-jogging track plus retail, conference, meeting and common areas, began about three years ago.
The cost is to be shared by the federal and provincial governments, each expected to contribute $4.7 million, the Town of St. Stephen, $2.1 million, and the community-at-large contributing $3.5 million.
The retired couple is very passionate and optimistic about the new civic centre and spoke enthusiastically of the facility’s potential benefits to the community.
“When our kids were growing up here, our sons were involved in hockey and our daughter was in figure skating,” said Norah, “but she would have much rather have done swimming as I would have. We could have gone as a family and done all of these things in one place.
“Plus,” Norah said, “local businesses, social service organizations and churches would love to be able to host a conference and there are just no facilities here to do this. We’re missing out on a lot by not having this type of facility.”
They see it as a win-win for St. Stephen and Charlotte County.
“A lot of people see this project as an ‘economic engine,’” said Peter. “Once you start building a $15-million capital project in a community there are direct spinoffs. We had a study done that suggests $11.2 million will be spent in Charlotte County because of this project – that the return to Charlotte County will be $11.2 million. This will restart our economy.”
“It will be a catalyst for other types of activity for growth,” added Norah. “The community is changing with all of the work that’s being done at the border crossings and the new highway. We’re on the cusp of great opportunity in this community.”
Although there are hundreds of people involved with this project, some working as teams to raise
funds, more volunteer support is needed at the grassroots level.
“The onlyway it will happen is if we have grassroots support from the community,” said Norah, “and the more people get involved the more it becomes their community centre even before a shovel goes into the ground. People working together will really make this a successful project in the end in more ways than just getting a building.”
Donations can be made through pledges, payroll deductions, challenges and one-time donations. All
donations will be income tax deductible in both Canada and the United States as funds are also being raised in Calais.
“That’s very important for people to know,” said Norah.
And, should the project not succeed, all donated money will be returned, said Peter.
Employee payroll deductions are currently being introduced at Charlotte County Hospital, Flakeboard and School District 10.
“For a very nominal deduction from an individual’s pay they can make significant donations to the civic centre,” says Peter. “It allows people to be participants in this process without having to come up with a significant number of dollars up front.”
Another option is to join the challenge from an anonymous individual who has given $10,000 on condition that nine other individuals, not businesses or corporations, step up to the plate. To date, six others have made $10,000 donations.
Pledges can be spread out to a maximum of five years, explained Norah.
“We have a number of formal asks to major corporations and foundations,” said Peter, adding some of them wish to see the level of community support before making a decision.
“We have a number of requests out there that we’re awaiting answers on and we’re very optimistic they will come back positive.
“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to say to them that two major service clubs in town, Rotary and Kiwanis, have both committed $100,000. That is community support.” Several other large donations have also been received.
“We’ve been really pleased with the support from the community,” concluded Norah.
For more information visit the civic centre’s office at the Garcelon Stamp Building, Suite 207, 123 Milltown Boulevard in St. Stephen, visit www.charlottecountyciviccentre.com or call 466 5095.