The new community hall is now under construction, with the foundation and floor being poured summer/fall 2022, and framing starting in March 2023. The goal is to have it completed for Fall 2023 and we need your help! With the increased cost of construction materials, there is a funding gap of $250,000. Please help us rebuild the community by donating through the Donate page, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, who will provide a tax receipt for amounts $20 or more. For donations over $500, please contact the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia office at accounting@cfns-fcne.ca, or for in kind items please contact Alana Hirtle or one of the Hall Trustees. Join in our efforts to rebuild Portapique! http://weblink.donorperfect.
The events of April 18-19, 2020 deeply affected people locally, and across the country. As People of Action, members of the Rotary Club of Truro wanted to help; what was apparent from the start was the strong sentiment that Portapique residents wanted to change the narrative from one of tragedy to a community that together is creating a new, positive, forward looking future. In the summer of 2020, the Rotary Club of Truro engaged Portapique residents to understand how the Club could help, what they would like to see in the area, and what opportunities existed. A focus group was held in July 2020 where residents were asked their opinions about the development of services within the existing Community Hall (which stood on that property for more than 175 years), their satisfaction with services, and what particular services were needed. During this stage, a clear vision was set: making the existing Community Hall fully accessible; and expanding the current building so it may be rented for events like meetings, weddings, or dances. Also, the addition of a proper outside play area for the community’s children was determined to be of great importance. Residents were excited about the project, not only for the physical improvements to be made, but even more so for the opportunity to come together with their neighbours and begin the healing process. The Project started as both an upgrade and an addition to the existing Portapique Community Hall. However, the former hall needed significant repairs to bring it to code, and it was not possible to expand the building due to its proximity to the road and property line. Therefore, the decision was made to disassemble the former hall (with the original beams to be incorporated into the new hall) and build a new facility which will provide a location for the community to come together for suppers, dances, yoga and other fitness classes, youth programming, and much more! The Rotary Club of Truro, along with the Trustees of the Riverside Community Hall (the current legally registered name of Portapique Community Hall), have partnered with several organizations to secure funding, and create programming which has taken place and will continue long after the new hall is completed. Since that time, Cobequid Consulting has designed and constructed a natural playground which was completed between April and October 2021. A Grand Opening was held on October 17, 2021 with more than 100 people in attendance to celebrate the completion of the first phase, dubbed “Mikjik” by Mi’kmaw elder Joe Michael. Many organizations have come forward, interested in hosting events and programming in the hall; already we’ve had 2 summers of programming through the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning in Dartmouth with much more to come!
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