See below. There is an official record of speakers and comments in text format.
More than 20 people spoke at a recent public meeting on the future of Fenella Hall, near Alderville, as Alnwick Haldimand Township councillors listened.
A range of questions and pleas were presented to politicians as community members, many from the area, sought to keep the facility open.
The hall is losing money. In 2024, it cost the township more than $31,000 but brought in barely $11,000 in revenue. This year, it cost taxpayers nearly $22,000, with almost $5,000 in income.
The 2018 Parks and Recreation Master Plan raises questions about its sustainability.
The hall is closed to the Alnwick Civic Centre, creating a possible duplication of services. This is counter to the township’s broader strategic direction of creating community hubs, Logel told the crowd.
Various user groups, including a line-dancing club, along with individual residents, made their case, saying the facility is vital to the community. Former Mayor Gail Latchford also appeared, adding her comments to the presentations.
Specific suggestions also included reinstating community centre committees, improving rental affordability, and exploring alternative uses. The meeting highlighted a lack of detailed information by some presenters and a call for better community engagement and informed decision-making.
The decision will now rest with the council as it proceeds with its 2026 budget process.
The public meeting:
Public Comments (taken from official meeting minutes):
- Kris Williams-Kalledat: Requested more consistency in the financial reporting for halls and requested clarity regarding the process for requesting information from the Township.
- Grit Koehl: Does not support the sale of Fenella Hall to fund the Grafton arena.
- Jim McCormack: More data would have been helpful for the public to review. What is the estimated cost of capital expenses over 5, 10-year period. Hours rented show low utilization; it would be helpful to show prime or non-prime hours. Before considering decommissioning, look at repurposing through an Expression of Interest to identify other uses. Daycare could be a viable option.
- Sandy Donaldson, Line Dancing Instructor: Rents Hall to provide Line Dancing classes. Rental cost has doubled since she started renting the facility. Recommended examining costs to see if there are more affordable options available to encourage more rentals.
- Eric Childs: Helped build the hall and later additions. Stated that rental calls are not being returned by the Township, and rental costs are too high compared to neighbouring halls. Discussed that consistent user groups would be greatly missed by the community. Recommended creating a board similar to the one that was in place since 1953 to oversee the Hall before the board was dissolved by the Township. The community built the Hall in 1953 and it was built by donation of labour and materials. Noted that the Hall has a great dance floor and great kitchen.
- Anne Hardy: Resident and Hall User (Line Dancing Lessons). Rental costs have doubled and would miss the Hall and the programming if decommissioned.
- Laurie Deviney: Vernonville Resident. More details requested on accessibility projects and costs. What are the goals of the community halls? To make money or provide community space. Large hall and expensive to rent so may need to reduce the rental fees. If sold, Township does not have any property within the community. Township is doing better with advertising but could be doing more.
- Gail Latchford: Hall needs work completed. Suggested that Hall Advisory Committees be reinstated to help fundraise and provide programming. Would lead to rental increases to offset costs.
- Samantha Austin: How will funds from sale be used? Would it be used in the North. Has a young family in community and hall has been used many times. What is the appraisal value of the Hall. Hamilton Township has multiple sites, including Harwood Hall. How do they run their hall successfully? Have rental rates caused rentals to drop?
- Wesley Wrightman: Business consultant. Sees many problems, including limited marketing. Issues have not been defined. Programming is focused in the South of the Township. Need to analyze the data and issues to find solutions. More families are building in the area and usage could increase with increased population. Alderville Community Centres are not accessible to Township residents. Township needs to look at the figures. Community has not been included in the conversation to date. Great kitchen and great dancehall. Great location. Need facilities and programming in the north. Feels that the focus is all on Grafton.
- Daniel Ferguson: Long family history in area and hall usage. Offered to sit on committee if reinstated.
- Shirley Childs: Have all avenues been investigated to keep the Hall open. Pharmacy proposed for Alnwick Civic Centre is not a good idea. Could Pharmacy be placed in the downstairs of Hall? Would decrease accessibility upgrades needed and possibly increase rentals upstairs. Closing of Hall would be against the Township’s own emergency plan. Hall as a 10,000gl tank on premises to be used by Fire Department if needed. Does the Community have any say in who purchases the building and what it will be used for?
- Doug Kelly: Donated the land to build the addition. Who gets the money if sold? Would money revert back to previous owners?
- Jeff Waldie: Why is snow plowing and fire inspections not handled internally?
- Gail Latchford and Kate Surerus: Harwood Hall and Scout Hall in Gores Landing are not owned by Hamilton Township, they are independently owned and managed by boards. Those boards receive community grants from Hamilton Township to assist with upgrades and events.
- Laurie Deviney: Parks & Recreation Manager to be responsible for contracts, etc. Volunteers to be the champions of the halls. In favour of reinstating Hall Committees.
- Gritt Koehl: Common theme is volunteers building facilities. In favour of Hall Committees being reintroduced.
- Ruth Coursey: More information would be beneficial. Focus groups / facilitated/roundtable discussions to get informed feedback.
- Kris Williams-Kalledat: What is the timeline for responses to get answers that have been brought forward?
- Pat Taylor: Have been to multiple functions at the Hall. How did it go from a Community Hall to a Township facility? Hall should go back to the Community.
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