MOOSE JAW — The kitchen at the Timothy Eaton Centre has officially reopened as of 8 a.m. on Sept. 2, with a fresh look and an improved layout, following a series of much-needed renovations made possible by community support and the generosity of local partners.
Home to the Moose Jaw and District Senior Citizens Association (MJDSCA), the centre’s upgraded kitchen marks the completion of a long-anticipated project designed to modernize the space for staff, volunteers, and visitors alike.
“Today (Aug. 29) was the last day of getting everything ready, so when we open up on Tuesday (Sept. 2), the kitchen will be up and running,” said Tanya Legare, administrator with the MJDSCA. “Everything’s in — we’ve actually got the groceries in and … we’re just waiting on somebody to come and check our sandwich bar, just to make sure everything’s at the right temperature.”
The kitchen makeover included a new centre island built from under-the-counter refrigerators, purchased with support from the Moose Jaw Co-op’s Project Shine campaign and installed with help from AJ’s Maintenance & Supply Ltd., which handled the dishwasher disconnection and reconnection.
A new three-door freezer, also funded in part by Project Shine, was installed with new electrical outlets provided by L&I Electric Ltd. ServiceMaster Restore of Moose Jaw assisted with removing the old island, stove and fryer, clearing the way for End of the Roll Flooring Centre, which levelled and installed brand-new flooring.
The cabinetry and walls were repainted by Elite Coating Systems, who also went above and beyond to repaint surrounding areas in the café to visually tie the space together.
C&E Mechanical Inc. managed the disconnection and reinstallation of gas lines for the stove and fryer, while Proline Plumbing & Heating Ltd. replaced piping in the dish pit area and installed a new sump pump for the ice machine.
Crews worked together over the span of three weeks to remove and reinstall appliances, lay new flooring, update electrical connections and paint cabinets and walls.
“They were quite a team,” Legare said about the workers. “Everybody … worked very well together and they were communicating with one another and made it very simple for us.”
The project was years in the making, with the Moose Jaw Co-op’s Project Shine initiative playing a key role in helping the centre move forward.
“With the money raised from (Project Shine), we were able to get the freezer and the refrigerators … it freed up a lot more space to purchase other items,” Legare said. “The new, energy-efficient (appliances) are going to help us (with costs) in the long run.”
Perhaps nobody is happier than kitchen manager Tina Euteneier, who has worked in the space for several years. She said she’s thrilled with the transformation.
“It looks fantastic,” she said. “It has been a long time coming.”
When asked what made the biggest difference, Euteneier didn’t hesitate. “The floor — that’s for sure,” she said confidently. “It was pretty bad before.”
The café plans to keep its current menu for now, but Euteneier hinted that some changes could come alongside the upgrade in the new year.
The Timothy Eaton Café is open for breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday, and is closed on stat holidays. The MJDSCA primarily serves adults over the age of 50, however the café is open to everyone.
The Timothy Eaton Centre is located at 510 Main Street North. For more information, call 306-694-4223 or email [email protected].
