A group in Clive has plans to transform a 110-year-old building into a centre for history, culture and the arts.

Laurie Hermary is from the Morton Historical Multi-Cultural Society and owns the Morton Block, a building that dates back to 1908.

Her vision is a multicultural centre that will include attractions like a museum, trading post, ice cream parlour and teaching rooms. The society wants it to be a place of cultural sharing, with courses being taught on crafts and healing.

“We want to be able to give people an experience, a place to go for families, where it’s not going to cost them a lot,” said Hermary, whose family has owned the building for seven generations.

(Photo courtesy Laurie Hermary)

Over the years, the two-storey, 6,000 square-foot building has been used as a school, clinic and business. During both World Wars, it housed war brides, was used to ship parcels to soldiers and served as a gathering place.

It is also the only commercial building to survive the three major fires in the town’s history.

The society is currently seeking charitable status which would allow it to fundraise $350,000 for upgrades, including a commercial kitchen.

Recently, Lacombe County threw its support behind them, with a letter endorsing the group’s application.