Cloverdale Legion is ready to reopen following a five-month renovation job that saw the venue closed entirely for several weeks.
The interior of Branch 6 has been modernized to the tune of close to $350,000.
However, the exterior of the 60-year-old building looks pretty much the same.
On Thursday, Legion staff and hired help put finishing touches on the renovated space.
On a back wall, a large photo-mural of a field of poppies has been installed (pictured below).
A kitchen, dance floor, band stage and other features are new to the Legion hall, which reopens to members on Thursday (Aug. 18), followed on Saturday (Aug. 20) by a pancake breakfast, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., and community barbecue from 1 to 4 p.m. On both Friday and Saturday evenings, The Lori Jordan band will perform.
CLICK HERE for event details posted on the Legion's website.
The original plan was to have the branch move to an entirely new building next door, in a lot to the west of the Royal Canadian Legion, on 57th Avenue near Highway 15, but the deal fell apart.
For renovations, approximately half of the budget came from a Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program grant, and the other half from branch reserves.
Nearby, in a lot at the corner of Highway 15, crews with the Townline development company are building what's known as The Brownley, a four-storey building with 82 homes and street-level retail space. The construction site is pictured below.
tom.zillich@thenownewspaper.com