District of Elkford residents were given a million reasons to smile today (Dec. 7), when Teck Resources Limited presented the community with $1 million to go toward its $6.3 million community hall.

During a tour of the under-construction 1,538 m² facility, Teck’s vice president of coal operations Bill Fleming unveiled a large cheque to the delight of the entire district council, administrative staff and visiting dignitaries.

“The roots of the mining industry run deep in this town,” Fleming said, adding Teck wants to keep “strengthening the ties” with the district, which was founded in 1970/71 to house Teck Cominco’s Fording Coal Operation employees.

Mission accomplished, beamed district Mayor Dean McKerracher, back on his feet after beating back a severe bout of pneumonia.

“I don’t really see a working relationship as much as I see a family,” he said. “I look at Teck as the father and mother of the communities,” he said, noting with a crack in his voice that when help is needed the company is always there.

McKerracher said he moved his family to Elkford in 1971, from Trail, to work at the mine. “We were going to stay for a couple of years and make some money. But here we are 40 years later,” he said.

“This is a tremendous, tremendous donation,” he said. “A million thanks! It will take a million years to wipe the smile off my face. Teck’s generous donation to the new community centre will help Elkford to continue to be a great place to live, work and play. The facility will attract citizens to the town core, helping to build a vibrant community. The community centre will significantly increase the availability of community space and enhance the town’s capacity to deliver programs and host functions and events. Teck’s support of this project reiterates the company’s dedication to the community of Elkford.”

“We’re proud to support Elkford’s new community centre, which will help to foster a healthy and sustainable community,” said Don Lindsay, Teck president and CEO. “Our employees live and work in Elkford and want to give back to the community. This centre will provide them and all of Elkford’s residents with a place to come together to celebrate the culture, heritage and spirit of this great community.”

The district initially purchased the old 2.4 hectare school property in 2006, for $175,000 from School District No. 5. In 2007, a fire destroyed the property.  Before re-building, the district looked to the community for input on how to best structure the centre for optimal community use. And from those roots grew this beautiful homage to B.C. and building with wood.

With Teck’s donation, the district now has only $1 million left to raise to pay for the hall. The bulk of the funds ($3.6 million) came from an insurance claim after the old Elkford Elementary School burned to the ground. A further $400,000 was provided courtesy East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett and the B.C. government and another $300,000 was provided by Columbia Basin Trust. In addition, Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area A director Mike Sosnowski forwarded $10,000 for hall furnishings.

“We’re still out there beating the bushes. We’ll graciously accept all donations,” McKerracher said.

It is hoped that the building will be finished construction by early spring.

McKerracher said the unique nature of the highly energy efficient community hall, a one-of-a-kind project in North America, has meant some delays.

However, when it is completed it will feature a possible visitor information centre, playschool for up to 40 children, commercial kitchen, banquet hall with a stage and big screen and multi-purpose meeting rooms, as well as historical displays that will showcase the history between Elkford and the local mining industry.

The entry, named the Elkford Room, will feature a towering fireplace, wrap-around natural lighting and the big Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep ram head hanging in the district office will be given a place of honour in the room, McKerracher told his tour guests.

Currently in the final stage of construction, the $6 million energy-efficient Community Centre is designed using structural wood construction to conserve maximum energy and reduce the centre’s environmental footprint.

McKerracher also announced that the hall’s 300 person banquet room will be named “the Teck Room” in honour of the company’s latest donation to the community.

Teck’s dignitaries enjoyed their tour. “I’m very impressed with this building,” Fleming said.

Teck’s Nick Milligan said the community hall project is a badge for McKerracher. “This is a culmination of a lot of hard work on his part,” he said.

About 740 of Elkford’s roughly 3,000 residents are employed at the nearby Teck mines. As a result, the company’s fingerprints are everywhere in the community “at the start of the road,” as McKerracher describes the Elk Valley town’s location.

The District and Teck have collaborated on numerous additions to the town including the Wapiti Ski Hill, Mountain Meadows Community Golf Course, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, the Elkford Pool and Library Complex and a campground.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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