Work underway on new francophone cultural centre in Timmins
Construction is officially underway on a new French cultural centre in Timmins, after its original building caught fire some years ago and was demolished.
The francophone community was devastated when it lost the 50-year-old cultural centre in 2015.
After more than $6 million was raised – and enduring many setbacks -- construction crews have finally broken ground.
"Not only with the pandemic, but then with all the resulting rising costs and things like that,' said Michelle Boileau of the Centre Culturel La Ronde.
"So to finally, actually, see the ground being broken, it's starting to feel real."
It was an emotional moment for Centre Culturel La Ronde, Boileau said, whose members worked tirelessly to get to this point, including securing community donations and government grants, as well as a $750,000 gift from Agnico Eagle topping off fundraising efforts last week.
The local francophone association said memories of the old building are flooding back, along with hope for the future.
"La Ronde was always an important part of the community, not just for cultural, but that's where we meet," said Sylvain Lacroix of the L'Alliance de la Francophone de Timmins.
"That's where we sit down and chat and create programs."
The new facility will be a one-story, 11,000-square-foot facility complete with a dance studio, bar, kitchen, lobby and mezzanine.
Lacroix said it's exciting to see developments in the French community -- a health centre, francophone immigrants and the new centre -- start coming to fruition.
"The future is bright for the Francophone community and for Timmins at large," he said.
Boileau said a bit more works needs to be done since the money raised so far only covers construction costs.
"We do want fundraise a little bit more, to make sure that we're in a comfortable position, in case there are some unforeseen issues, and then, of course, the more we fundraise, the better it can be," she said.
Boileau said the goal is to raise at least another $500,000 to cover furnishings and any extra costs. The hope is to have the building ready by next summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.