Rose Lake Residents Work Together To Restore Local Community Hall Near Burns Lake

In 2009, Rose Lake Community Club received a $30,000 grant from Northern Development through the Community Halls and Recreation Facilities program towards this $105,000 project. This has been a funding partnership of Rose Lake Community Club, Northern Development, and Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako

2012-The Rose Lake Community Club was created in 1971 to develop and promote community recreation. The club owns and maintains the Rose Lake Community Hall, which was built in 1950 and remains a vital component of this rural community located near Burns Lake. As the hall was not up to safety or building codes prior to this project, the club undertook a comprehensive renovation of the hall.

In 2009, the Rose Lake Community Club began the renovation, which included the installation of energy efficient doors, a new electric furnace, a hot water tank, a sewage system, the replacement of the insulation and roof, the drilling of a new well and an extension of the building that included storage space. A new well was required in order to provide clean, potable drinking water as water was previously supplied from the lake. The existing sewage system was not up to code and the installation of an updated system was essential to usability of the hall.

"The expansion and renovations to our community hall has been an incredibly positive experience for our community. Our hall had no storage facilities, hot water, no water at all in the kitchen, an antiquated sewer system, no potable water, and many more deficiencies. We were unable to use the facility for any functions involving food and the hall was so cold and draughty."

Louise Fisher, President, Rose Lake Community Club

"The funding we received from Northern Development helped us realize our dream of bringing our hall back to a functioning facility that would attract user groups and help us meet current health regulations.  The renovations to our hall have actually brought our small rural community even closer together as we have all had to pitch to make this project work. Our hall has had new life breathed into it and we are extremely proud of our facility."

Louise Fisher, President, Rose Lake Community Club

"Without funding from organizations such as Northern Development, I believe, that small community halls would eventually disappear as groups such as ours could not afford the expense of major upgrades such as the ones our facility required."

Louise Fisher, President, Rose Lake Community Club

Positive Economic Impacts in Burns Lake

The Rose Lake Community Hall renovation has allowed for continued access to educational, recreational and social programming for the rural community of Rose Lake. The hall represents the only recreation infrastructure available in the community and the only facility in the community capable of serving as an Emergency Operations Centre and Shelter. By performing these upgrades, the residents of Rose Lake have seen an increase in rentals for weddings and other community events held locally within the community, as well as providing continued access for local organizations to host meetings and run fundraising events.

Since its re-opening, the hall has seen approximately twenty percent increase in revenues from hall rentals and facility use. The hall is now more energy efficient as a result of the energy upgrades completed, which has resulted in a decrease in the utility fees of the hall, helping the non-profit society improve its financial sustainability. Additionally, the materials and labour for the renovation were purchased locally creating temporary employment and revenue for local businesses in Houston and Burns Lake.

Community Halls and Recreation Facilities

The Community Halls and Recreation Facilities is no longer available. Please visit the Recreation Infrastructure program page

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