It's all over but the cookin'.
It took nine months of hard work to get the $250,000 in kitchen upgrades completed at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association (ECRA) Centre at 1692 Tenth Ave.
The ribbon cutting was held Monday morning to celebrate the renovations that will make it easier to feed up to 200 people on any given day Monday to Friday.
The city contributed $100,000 to the budget, while Initiatives Prince George added $30,000, the provincial government added $25,000 thanks to MLA Shirley Bond and there were several smaller contributions too numerous to mention, said Mike Bundock, ECRA president.
"We're still raising money, I just raised $3,000 myself last week to help pay for where we went over on the budget," he added.
ECRA has had an increase in membership over the last year or so that sees them go from 750 to almost 1,000 members, which puts the burden on the centre to become more efficient and safe for both the staff and members.
There's been 345 square feet added to the existing kitchen and a new walk-in freezer located within the newly configured space that's more energy efficient and much safer to access than the 20 or so fridges and freezers that used to be housed mostly in the basement of the centre. The location of those freezers made schlepping heavy items like frozen turkeys up a long flight of stairs hazardous for most and downright dangerous for others.
Bundock said there was a soup pot that was located up high, which made it a hazard to handle, but now he said it's located where it's supposed to be at counter height.
"And that's what this is all about, to make it more efficient and safe for our people to work and members to be here," Bundock said.
The mandate for ECRA, as a non-profit organization, is to provide low cost nutritional meals and recreational activities to its members, which contributes to seniors' well being within the Prince George community.
Bundock said he was proud of the efforts made by all involved and invited dignitaries to the ribbon cutting including Mayor Lyn Hall, who said a few words about how determined Bundock was to get the facility upgraded to accommodate so many seniors in the community. Dorothy Titchener from Shirley Bond's office said a few words on Bond's behalf, while several city councillors were in attendance including Susan Scott, Albert Koehler, Jillian Merrick and Brian Skakun.
Most of the dignitaries stayed to enjoy the pork, mashed potatoes and gravy with vegetables that was on offer for the midday meal.
