Hope Cottage Re-opens Monday October 11, 1999

Invitation

You are invited to attend the official Ribbon Cutting to mark the re-opening of Hope Cottage, Monday October 11, 1999 (Thanksgiving Day).

Program

1:30 PM - Ribbon Cutting

1:35 PM - Unveil Plaque commemorating Edwards Family Kitchen

1:40 PM - Unveil Portrait commemorating the Fr. Joe Mills Dinning Room

1:45 PM - Blessing of Hope Cottage by Archbishop Prendergast

1:50 PM - View new premises

2:00 PM - Guests seated for Turkey Dinner

Come and celebrate

this memorable event with us.

Michael Burke photos

Hope Cottage - 2435 Brunswick St., Halifax, NS B3K 2Z4. Tel. (902) 429-7968
Layout & Production: J.C. Canales-Leyton under agreement with
Street Feat, The Voice of The Poor

Hope Cottage Addition

History of Addition

The idea of an addition to Hope Cottage goes back at least ten years. It has long been known and understood that the present facilities were much too small and inefficient to handle the growing numbers of people attending on a regular basis. The current Board had drawings prepared in 1996 for discussion and evaluation. This proposal was approved by the Board in late 1996. The drawings were presented the Planning Advisory Board in May 1997. After many meetings with City planning officials, and Heritage Advisory Board, Planning Advisory Board approved the proposal in June 1998.

The New Facilities

Halifax City Council approved the proposal for a Development Agreement in July 1998. The next 10 months were involved with fine tuning the plans and satisfying the requirements for the Development Agreement. One of the more time-consuming tasks required a Phase I Archeological assessment and then, based on the results, digging test pits on a 5m grid. Once the tasks were completed we were in position to apply for a Building Permit. The plans were submitted to HRM on May 06, 1999, along with a $550.00 fee. Two weeks later the city returned the $550.00 as a gift. After a few more exchanges with the building inspection department, a Permit was issued on June 30, 1999, and construction stared on July 02, 1999 (the inside workers went on strike July 05). Work is scheduled for completion on Friday Oct. 08, 1999.

Builders and Benefactors

There have been many people and organizations involved in the planning and construction of this addition. First there was the firm of Jacques Whitford who handled the Archeological work, then Architects Harvey and MacKenzie, and Engineering firms Malcolm Pinto Engineering and Dumac Energy Ltd. produced the plans and specifications, all Pro Bono. Bayshore Contracting was selected as the Project Managers and they selected the various sub-trades.

The Edwards Family Foundation contributed $25,000.00 towards the kitchen and Ocean Contractors contributed $10,000 towards the excavation and concrete work. There have been many other suppliers who have given "preferred" prices for material and equipment. Acknowledge-ment for these will be documented in later newsletters.

In many ways it is disappointing that we would have to build a bigger Hope Cottage. However, given the number of people being fed, and showing no signs of being reduced, the Board concluded that we could no longer serve our guests with the respect they deserve in the old facility. The new building will have a new efficient kitchen and seating for 85 people in one dining area. It will have a large storage area with a walk-in refrigerator and a cold room. The basement storage level will have a grade-level loading door. It will also have a chapel in the basement level. Weekly Mass will start on Thursday Oct. 14 at 11:15. Everyone is welcome.

This new facility will be capable of filling the needs of Hope Cottage for many years into the future. Should the day come when it is not required as a soup kitchen, then the building's design will lend itself to other multifunctional uses.

In closing, none of this would be possible without the prayers and support of you, our benefactors. You are truly the life blood of the operation without whom we would not exist.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.