Work is starting to install new flooring for Branch 249 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
And that’s due to receiving four grants amounting to $46,417.
Legion executive secretary Joanne Woodbeck said the Legion was thrilled to receive the grants from Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Dungate Community Forest, Pacific Atlantic Pipeline Construction and the Bulkley Valley Credit Union.
The project is to take place in two phases with the first being replacing the upstairs hall floors and then the stairs.
“And then tentatively, we are planning to close our lounge from March 28 to April 14, in order to complete the installation of the flooring downstairs,” said Woodbeck.
Legion officials applied for the Northern Development Initiatives Trust grant last fall with the District of Houston council adding a resolution in support of the application.
The commercial grade laminate flooring will replace old carpeting that’s been troublesome to negotiate for people in wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.
There were also sections of carpet removed during recent washroom renovations and that’s become a possible tripping hazard.
Laminate will also be easier to maintain and clean compared to carpet.
The new flooring is part of a series of projects begun in 2017 called “Becoming Accessible for Our Community” to make the Legion building more accessible for everyone regardless of their needs or limitations, said Woodbeck.
Previous work involved a new cement ramp with railing for easier access into our building, an electronic front entrance that can be opened by a push of a button for those who need to utilize it and two upstairs and two downstairs wheelchair accessible washrooms.