The annual general meeting for the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre was much different this year.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first AGM held at their newly-opened location at the Pfeifer Learning Centre on Railway Avenue and 105th Street.
The organization, which provides support and programming for individuals with disabilities, moved into the new 20,000 square foot space this past October.
The transition to the new facility from their former locations in the Riverview neighbourhood dominated the reports presented at the meeting.
President Julian Stelmaschuk gave an update on the sale of their former locations. The old Armoury building on 102nd Street, their longtime location, was sold two months ago. Plans have been made public for a microbrewery to go in that location.
Of note, Stelmaschuk also reported the Vida McDonald Centre is still up for sale, with Re/Max handling the sale of that property.
Earlier this year, it looked like a buyer had been found. In March, city council approved a discretionary use application from a developer proposing to turn the building into an eight-unit apartment complex. The indication at the time was that work would start right away.
But at the last minute, the deal fell through. So, the search for a purchaser goes on. Re/Max is currently listing the Vida McDonald Centre at an asking price of $370,000.
The zoning is R2, so condominiums or duplexes could still be a possibility for that location.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Stelmaschuk thanked all of those who purchased memberships in the organization, and encouraged more people to get involved in BTEC and serve on the Board. “You might say that is our invitation,” he said in his remarks.
Executive director Mona Leece provided her report, which focused heavily on the transition to the new building.
“Although this past year has been one of turmoil and excitement we have managed to move into our new facility, the Pfeifer Learning Centre. I think we are beginning to find a rhythm to our days and a sense of home for our participants,” Leece reported.
She acknowledged the move has been challenging at times.
“Participants that we thought we would have problems with were fine and participants that we thought would be fine had some difficulties. As I’ve said before we are getting into a rhythm and are always looking for new and different programs for our participants.”
Leece also noted that while this is Canada’s 150th year, this is also BTEC’s 50th year. An anniversary celebration is planned for later in the year and more details will come forward about that.
The organization has come off a successful “My Community Cares” campaign to raise money for their new building. Many thanks went out at the meeting to all those involved in that campaign and in getting the new facility built.
But money is still needed for other items such as furnishings and specialized equipment, so more fundraisers are planned. Other fundraisers that took last year off to focus on the new building campaign are being revived.
The intention is to revamp their traditional Art Show and Sale, and bring it back in a new format in the future.
Earlier this year $45,000 was raised by their Mardi Gras 2017 event. Preliminary planning is already on for Mardi Gras 2018 with Feb. 10 of that year the date that organizers are looking at.
The PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Association also supported BTEC by raising over $13,000 at their event last July and $5,600 was raised through the event “Dancers Who Care” held in March.
