What do you do when the roof starts to leak and the windowsills are rotting? The Chinook Creative Arts Foundation (CCAF) found itself in that situation just over a year ago.
The CCAF leases the historical Water Valley School, as the Chinook Creative Arts Centre, and is responsible for its maintenance. However, with two major repairs needed as soon as possible the volunteer organization was under a huge financial strain.
Minor repairs had been done to keep the roof going for a few more years, but with leaks appearing it was time to replace the entire roof.
After getting some roof quotes, the CCAF applied to the Cremona Recreation Board Grant made available by Mountain View County.
Within a few months the CCAF received enough funds along with hail insurance to have a new roof put on, just in time for some major rainstorms last summer. What a relief to have the support of grant money.
Around the same time the roof leaks had been noticed, concern was raised about rotten windowsills found in one area. If a few were rotting, what would be the condition of the others?
After a more thorough inspection, the advice of community members experienced in building repairs was that all windows should be replaced as soon as possible. But how would the CCAF find the funds for such a huge project?
The one-room Water Valley School was built in 1926 with a second room built to the north in 1946. Some window repair had been done over the years but the majority of windows were still original.
Along with the cost of replacement was the concern to retain the historical integrity of the school.
The CCAF knew the usual means of raising funds would take years. The windows could not wait another year. The CCAF had funds from its annual art show, from renting out rooms within the school for community use, and from individual donations, but not nearly enough to fund the full cost of the windows.
After receiving a number of quotes, the CCAF applied to the Government of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program for a matching grant. This grant is administered by Alberta Culture and Tourism and aims to foster healthy, vibrant communities across Alberta.
The wait was long, and with all hopes pinned on this grant, the CCAF members kept their fingers crossed.
Thankfully the window project was approved for a matching grant by the Community Facility Enhancement Program by late fall of 2017.
The windows were ordered and installed through a local company, the Window and Door Guys, in January of this year.
Comments received from community members, some of them former students of the school, were that the school was warmer, the windows look very good, and the school looks almost new. This was exactly what the CCAF had hoped for – their historical building not only looking great but offering increased warmth in the winter months with the triple paned glass.
The old windows will be sold by silent auction at the CCAF Gala on April 27 and continuing at the Art Show & Sale on April 28, at the Chinook Creative Arts Centre.
While the single panes set in the wooden sashes of the past are not good insulators, they are sought after by artisans and crafters. You can follow CCAF on Instagram and Facebook where you’ll find more information.
The Chinook Creative Arts Foundation is very grateful for the grant funding from various levels of government for these projects, which gave new life to the old school.
