By battlefordsNOW

Lions’ Den becoming new CMHA building

Jan 14, 2017 | 3:57 PM

More space is exactly what the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Battlefords’ Branch needs, and that’s exactly what they’re getting by renovating the North Battleford Lions’ Den.

Jane Zielke de Montbrun, executive director for the CMHA Battlefords Branch, said the local mental health association needed to start looking at bigger office spaces after doubling their work programs in 2014. After looking around at other options, she said the Lions Club’s old building seemed to be the best fit.

“We weren’t looking at new, we were just looking at better and bigger,” Zielke de Montbrun said. “This new building will give us more than double our space, and also the capacity to add on in the future because it comes with an empty lot adjacent to the building.”

She said the new space is very exciting for everyone, including staff, members and clients.

“I have three staff that share one office and one computer,” she said. “As far as our members go, and the work that they do in the community each day of the week, as well as the people who come in for drop-ins, we’re all really impacted by the limited space that we have here.”

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Since the purchase, the renovations have come a long way and are expected to be completed by March, with the branch moving in during April, and a grand opening in May.

The branch is fundraising for the remaining roughly $300,000 it will take to pay for the project, Zielke de Montburn said, and more fundraisers are planned for the future including the sale of bird houses shaped like the new building and events planned around mental health week in May.

In a news release the executive director pointed to the many donors who have helped them raise money so far including the Battlefords United Way and Battleford Furniture. She said the giving nature of the community has touched her heart.

“It’s a very exciting thing to see it all come about and I must say that although I’m not from North Battleford, the Battlefords is my home and I am truly humbled and amazed at the giving that this community steps up for time after time after time,” she said. “I’m very, very happy to be here.”

katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca

@ksvenkeson