Community hall upgrades enhance safety and sustainability
Living in the Columbia Basin means knowing the risks that come with wildfires, power outages, heatwaves and freezing temperatures. In Fauquier, these challenges are all too familiar. That’s why the Fauquier Community Club has taken action to upgrade its well-used community hall, ensuring it’s prepared for future emergencies while reducing its environmental footprint and operational costs.
“The hall became our emergency operations centre during the 2021 Octopus Creek wildfires,” says Heather Fraser, Treasurer. “We wanted to be better equipped for future events, and with the help of Columbia Basin Trust, we’ve been able to do just that.”
In 2024, the club began making three significant upgrades to the hall. First, they replaced the aging oil furnace with a heat pump and a backup propane furnace, ensuring reliable, energy-efficient heating. They also added a backup generator to keep the hall operational during power outages. Finally, solar panels are being installed on the roof to generate renewable energy.
“These changes not only prepare us for emergencies but also help us cut greenhouse gas emissions,” says Fraser. The upgrades are also set to significantly lower the hall’s energy bills, a major relief for the club. “It’s tough for the community club to cover these costs just from hall rentals. We’ve had to be proactive.”
Built in 1968, the hall is a vital hub for Fauquier residents, hosting everything from youth programs and fitness classes to morning socials and health clinics, as well as the occasional wedding and memorial. “It’s used almost every day, especially in winter,” Fraser says. “We’re trying to bring seniors out more, give them a place to socialize, walk or just enjoy a cup of tea.”
The upgrades were made possible with $97,960 from the Trust. However, the project hit a snag when the club discovered that the hall’s roof was near the end of its life. Installing solar panels on an aging roof would mean removing them in just a few years for roof repairs—a costly and inefficient plan.
“We didn’t have the funds for a new roof,” Fraser explains. “But thanks to a generous donation from Teresa Weatherhead, Director for Area K of the Regional District of Central Kootenay, we were able to replace the roof in time to install panels without delays.”
Angie Elsmore, the Trust’s Community Liaison for the Northwest Basin, supported the club throughout the process. “Working closely with communities helps us understand their needs, ensuring they are aware of and applying for Trust programs that can bring their projects to life,” Elsmore says.
For Fraser and the Fauquier Community Club, the Trust’s support has been invaluable. “None of these projects—upgrading our heating system, installing the generator or adding the solar panels—would have happened without the Trust. We are so fortunate to have this kind of support, and we are incredibly grateful.”
