From karate to weddings (usually not at the same time... usually) the Torquay Community Centre has been the site of many practices, get-togethers, and celebrations over the years. In order to keep being that place of importance, however, it needed a bit of an injection of money. 

The community centre will get that money from the village to help with a long list of renovations. The money the village is putting toward it will come from several different sources, including the federal and provincial governments, the village, the community centre itself, and the RM. 

"We're really excited," said Torquay Mayor Mike Strachan. "It's one of those things where it was a great partnership between the village and the RM of Cambria and the community club. The community club actually came up with the idea. They needed funds to improve their building, to bring more people in."

Those funds will total over $200,000, with $83,860 from the federal government, $69,876 from the province, and $55,914 from the village, the RM, and the centre itself. That chunk of change will have to cover a fair bit of ground, however, as there are numerous upgrades the club is looking for.

"They're going to be upgrading the boil for heat," said Strachan, "and some flooring and roof upgrades. The roof has been leaking in that building for a while, so we're doing that. Overall, it's a new facelift and look."

A lot of money will go into the building and that money will pay for a lot of work, but that work and money are worth it for the community of 255. The community centre is one of the most prominent buildings in the village. 

"This is one of those buildings, along with our rink, that people in our community tend to use," said Strachan. "It really needed a facelift, so having the partnership like we did between the RM and the community club is really exciting. We're hoping the new changes people will come out and see when we're done and start using our building a little more."

Strachan added the community centre is a popular spot for pickleball, karate practices, weddings, and other events when those events are allowed, though there haven't been nearly as many of those during the time of COVID-19.