COVID took a big toll on public spaces. How this P.E.I. community centre is looking to recover | CBC News

Phyllis Carr breaks into a huge smile when she thinks back on some of her favourite memories at the community centre in New London, on P.E.I.’s North Shore.

“Probably the dances from the old days. Oh my gosh, like New Year’s Eve, and fun wedding dances,” she said with a chuckle during an interview Thursday.

The New London Community Complex used to be a busy hub for people like Carr, who live in the area. Many still rent the space for activities like weddings, pickleball and seniors card games. 

“In rural areas, back years ago, this place was the only place, pretty much,” Carr said. “There’s so many wedding places on the Island now and so many restaurants and food places… Things have changed a lot.” 

Pandemic restrictions also took a toll, and it has been difficult to keep the centre afloat financially. 

“We had a rough four years with COVID, big places like this not being able to be open,” Carr said. 

The centre does generate revenue through rentals for meetings and private events, but not enough to break even. It has also struggled to retain staff. 

All of that led to a community member suggesting at the board’s annual general meeting in November that the facility be sold, said board vice-president Tammy Campbell.

Then came a meeting to discuss the idea, which Campbell said generated a lot of interest — and seven new people have joined the board to help revitalize the complex so that it doesn’t have to be sold. 

It’s a place where people come together and they help others, so I think that it’s important to have that.— Tammy Campbell

“I’m much more positive right now,” said Campbell. “We’re looking at more fundraising efforts, we have support from our MLAs.”

A new bakery is renting space on the premises and is excited to partner with the complex on events. As well, Campbell said more young families with children have moved to the area, so they plan to cater to that demographic with parties and other activities for kids. 

“We just have to make them aware, in our communities, because they don’t know,” Carr said. “It’s here and it’s for them… I think they’ll come.”

‘It would be a big loss’

Campbell said she visited the centre with her grandparents as a child, came to dances as a teen, and attended benefits for families in need in the area.

“It’s a place where people come together and they help others, so I think that it’s important to have that,” she said. “We need to work together to make it work better.” 

“If we give it up, it’s gone forever,” Carr put in. “If we work a little harder — we have great people in our community — maybe we can make it happen and keep it going.” 

If we were to lose this wonderful facility, it would be gone forever and it would be a big loss.— Clayton Smith

Clayton Smith attends cards and crokinole for seniors every Wednesday at the centre. He said the space is very important to the 40 or 50 people who come, because there aren’t many other activities for seniors in the area. 

“There’s somewhere for them to go and visit with one another,” he said.

“If we were to lose this wonderful facility, it would be gone forever and it would be a big loss.”