Community Information – Hall (Community Center) Fee Raised to $200

The ECAE’s hall committee completed its research on the possibilities of attaining a community space and presented its finding and recommendations at the General Membership Meeting held on February 23, 2019 at Edmonton Mennonite Center. The research which started in 2016 and completed in 2018 was based on the survey completed by the community at large, on ECAE’s financial outlook and current real estate market conditions.

Some of the highlights of the report which was forwarded to the Executive Board and discussed with the general membership are as follows:

• The survey was completed by 136 people comprising 425 members of the community at large (family members included).
• Most respondents comprise of family units with very young children.
• Respondents chose community hall, community office, meeting space and a learning center as the most important spaces to be included in the community space.
• About 81% of respondents also noted that they are willing to increase the hall fee to $300 a year to be used for the attainment of such a space.
• The research presented the financial capacity of the organization to attain a community spaces based on future savings which included possible gains through suggested fee increase.
• An overall median fee $283 was used in its calculations.
• Two options were presented in the report; attaining a community hall at $1,700,000 (estimated current market value) vs. a smaller community resource center at $750,000 (estimate current market value).
• The resource center will lack the large community hall option which the community members highly desire.
• Based on the above noted findings the committee has presented the following recommendations to the Executive Board.
  • Increase the hall fee to $200 (for both family and single membership). This will increase the financial capacity to gain any future space in a reasonable time.
  • Go with a resource center strategy (space to be attained in 2020/2021) with the possibility to switch to a large community hall in 2026.
• The Board discussed on the merits of the fee increase and the space options being entertained and voted to:
  • Increase the hall Fee to $200 (for both family and single membership)
  • Go with a resource center strategy

Final acceptance of these motions were made by the membership on February 23, 2019. Therefore the hall fee for 2019 and moving forward is increased to $200 (for both family and single membership) to attain a community resource center by 2021. Please note that this increase only applies to the community hall project. The membership fee will not increase.  If you are interested in working on the next phase of the project and you want to attain more on your volunteer hours, please contact the community association via e-mail at contact@ecaemdonton.com  and get involved.