HAGERSVILLE — The Hagersville Active Living Centre + Library is officially less than a year away from opening its doors to the public and the fundraising committee is focused on reaching a $2 million milestone to allow a series of upgrades for the facility.
Community Development and Partnerships Manager Katrina Schmitz provided an update on the site’s development, which broke ground with a ceremony in July.
“The current focus of site works is on excavation and installation of footings and foundation. Shop drawings are well into approval process with building material ordering underway and scheduling of sub-trades also starting to take shape. Council recently authorized submission of a grant application to the Ontario Community Sport & Recreation Infrastructure Fund,” she shared.
HAGERSVILLE—Artistic depictions of the future Hagersville Active Living Centre and Library, which will be located near the corner of Athens and Cedar streets in Hagersville. 
HAGERSVILLE—Artistic depictions of the future Hagersville Active Living Centre and Library, which will be located near the corner of Athens and Cedar streets in Hagersville.
“Hagersville is the second fastest growing community in Haldimand and there is a tremendous need for a recreation, community, and cultural hub that supports the interests and wellness of residents, potential users from neighbouring communities, and visitors,” said Rob Phillips, President of the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce and a member of the fundraising committee.
Initially tasked with raising $1.5 million through community fundraising, the team has surpassed that total with $1.75 million in the bank thanks to the generous support of local community members and businesses who have bought into the project through donations.
“We’re hopeful that we can get to the $2 million range. At the end of the day, we had to raise at least $1.5 million to hand over to the County as the community fundraising component or this building would not have gone ahead,” said Fundraising Chair Tony Dalimonte. “We hope the community will help us get to the finish line in our fundraising efforts for enhancements that will create a first-class programming and event space for residents and visitors.”
Dalimonte added, “We had a fundraising meeting with County staff last week and we were informed … that this coming week we should probably start seeing the walls go up on the building, so we’re really moving along here now.”
He praised the generosity of those in Hagersville who have donated already and hopes those on the fence might be persuaded to join in now as the project races toward completion.
“We’re actively seeking more donations because we’re getting close to the point where we have to start making decisions about what extras we’re going to put into the building so we can incorporate them into the construction process,” explained Dalimonte, who added that the fundraising committee will continue to seek donations throughout the construction process and beyond.
As for what that additional $500,000 will be used for, Dalimonte said this includes a portable stage for events, an enhanced acoustics system, and a series of items designed to make the facility more appealing as an event space.
“We want to go after the best acoustics system we can, because it’s going to be a large building and we want to make sure someone who is renting it for a wedding, a banquet, a corporate event, whatever the case may be, we’ve got the best that we can get,” said Dalimonte.
Fundraising efforts are ramping up again after a quieter summer, with more community letters being sent to residents and a renewed push on targeting local businesses who have expressed interest but haven’t committed just yet.
“We’re still going after corporate donations. We’ve made several contacts in the last eight weeks and we’re waiting to hear back,” said Dalimonte. “There’s some that have indicated to us that they want to be involved, be a player, but need some time to think about it.”
With no deadline to fundraise, Dalimonte sees the committee’s work extending right up to opening day and beyond.
“We’ll continue to fundraise even after the building is open,” he said. “I’m really excited…. I think the people who go through it will really appreciate the work that’s been done…. I can hardly wait to have this building open.”
