Fort St. John non-profit receives $10,000 donation for building renovation project

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) has received a sizable donation for its ongoing Terus Community Centre Capital Campaign. 

The $10,000 donation came from Pacific Canbriam Energy.

In an October 31st Facebook post, the FSJACL expressed its appreciation for the contribution, calling it an example of “community partnership in action.”

“We are so grateful to Pacific Canbriam Energy for their generous $10,000 donation in support of the Terus Community Centre Capital Campaign,” the post reads. 

“Their desire to be a committed, responsible and engaged community partner truly inspires us as we work to bring the vision for this new centre to life.”

The Terus Community Centre campaign aims to renovate the association’s former operations building at 10257 100th Avenue, which has been deemed inadequate for current program needs. 

FSJACL chief executive Jordan Soggie told Energeticcity.ca earlier this year that the renovations are necessary due to the community’s growing and evolving requirements since the building first opened in 1960.

The new design includes plans for a community café, which will provide employment training for people with disabilities, helping them build skills that will enable them to have future career opportunities.

“There is a stigma around hiring people with disabilities, and we want to show that a business can run and have people who are employed with disabilities and do quite well,” Soggie said.

The project is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million, with funding coming from grants and community donations. 

According to the FSJACL’s website, the campaign has received $351,850 out of its $800,000 goal, as of October 31st.

Founded in 1960, the FSJACL provides support and services for more than 120 adults with developmental disabilities across the Fort St. John area. Earlier this year, the association celebrated its 65th anniversary.

Donations to the Terus Community Centre campaign can be made through the FSJACL’s website.