Construction has begun for plans to turn the old Bradford Public School on Church Street into a community hub.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury Community Hub building will serve as a space for local not-for-profit organizations and other community services.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the project is the Helping Hand Food Bank, which needed to find a larger space for its operation as it continues to grow and help those in the community dealing with food insecurity. Helping Hand is currently using part of the former St. Mary’s School at 123 Moore Street, which doesn’t provide enough space.
“It is becoming more challenging by the day for them to accept, store and carry an organized inventory of donations that community members can easily access,” said Mayor Rob Keffer. “With the rapid growth of our community, there will be an increasing demand for their services well into the future and this new space will support that growth.”
The town purchased the school in late 2020 with the idea to turn it into a centralized community and social services hub for residents. The building will provide local organizations with a spacious area while also making it easier for residents by providing residents with social services all under one roof.
"This project is special, for a bunch of reasons,” said Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott. “For many of us, Bradford Public School was our school, and to see it being renewed is meaningful.”
The community hub will provide essential community and town services with more space and will include meeting spaces for local groups and community organizations. The building will also feature a commercial kitchen with expanded event space, exterior building and parking improvements, a large, open-concept lobby and reception area, common spaces, and more.
“The renovations and retrofits will cut greenhouse-gas emissions and utility costs in half and transform a building dating from the 1950s into a modern space that will serve some important needs in our community, like housing the food bank in a new, state-of-the-art space and providing a small business resource centre,” Scott added. “It will also significantly improve a public space in the old end of town, adding to our revitalization efforts, and will help to provide new community space for residents to use and enjoy."
The Helping Hand Food Bank is currently the only confirmed occupant, but the Town of BWG has plans to go through a tenant selection process with local community service providers.
Renovation works commenced in early May, with an expected completion date of May/June 2023.
