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THE KINSMEN CENTRE REBORN

Options for Sexual Heath, Nakusp and Area Youth Society and the Arrow Lakes Arts Council have revitalized a historic building in Nakusp
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Mayor Karen Hamling cuts the ceremonial ribbon officially opening the Kinship Connection building. (L-R): Liz Gillis and Paul Pederson from the RDCK

RYAN WILLMAN

Arrow Lakes News

Working together, Options for Sexual Heath, Nakusp and Area Youth Society and the Arrow Lakes Arts Council have revitalized a historic building in Nakusp by breathing new life into the Kinsmen Center. All three organizations have banded together to renovate the building on Broadway and have officially taken up residence after a grand opening and dedication ceremony last Wednesday.

The building has stood like a corner stone for the village of Nakusp since its construction in 1969 by the industrious and philanthropic group, the Kinsmen. Historically active in the community, the Kinsmen are a service group that formed at the end of World War II and were involved in several local projects including the installation of streetlights down Broadway and constructing the first arena. These community orientated projects were made financially possible through several fundraising initiatives by the Kinsmen, the most profitable being the sale of car pegs to the local pole yard during a time when poles were shipped out of Nakusp on rail cars.

Once the building was finished, it was donated to the Village of Nakusp under the terms of a forty-year contract to be used as the heath center. After the original contract ended in 2010, the building fell into an identity crisis and drifted in limbo until Options for Sexual Health in need of a home to call their own, made an inquiry with the village regarding the vacant building.

Soon after the initial consultation with the village, Linda Nero, Brenda Kennedy, Cassia Parent, Pat Dion, Christine Mayer and Jessica Maynard created a steering committee and pursued the Kinsmen building. The building was given a facelift with several renovations made possible through the goodwill of volunteers in the community, and was renamed Kinship Connection and officially opened.

Master of Ceremonies and staff member of Options for Sexual Health, Teresa Weatherhead, celebrated the community effort that helped drive the Kinship project saying, “today is a celebration of volunteerism! It’s about taking something and repurposing the space. Round two is what this building is all about and I want to thank all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make this happen.”

Chuck Dinning, an active member of the Kinsmen, was in attendance at the grand opening and is happy to see the building reborn as a haven for local organizations that were in need of a home.

“I want to thank you for taking consideration and moving this building onto bigger and better things because it had looked like it died,” the charismatic Dinning quipped with a smile. “I think it is a wonderful place, great for the young people, good for the old people, it was space that was going to waste, but you have fixed that.”

Master of Ceremonies and staff member of Options for Sexual Health, Teresa Weatherhead, celebrated the community effort that helped drive the Kinship project.

“Today is a celebration of volunteerism! It’s about taking something and repurposing the space. Round two is what this building is all about and I want to thank all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make this happenm” Weatherhead said.

Chuck Dinning, an active member of the Kinsmen, was in attendance at the grand opening and is happy to see the building reborn as a haven for local organizations that were in need of a home.

“I want to thank you for taking consideration and moving this building onto bigger and better things because it had looked like it died,” the charismatic Dinning quipped with a smile. “I think it is a wonderful place, great for the young people, good for the old people, it was space that was going to waste, but you have fixed that.”