From the Town of Ponoka:

Interior Renovations on the Building by Cash Foods Ltd. Have Begun; External Renovations are Planned

The sale of the Kinsmen Community Centre is moving forward with the signing of a Sale and Construction Agreement between the Town of Ponoka and Cash Foods Ltd.

The signing of the Sale and Construction Agreement follows Ponoka Town Council’s acceptance on February 12 of an offer to purchase the Kinsmen Community Centre and approximately 1.26 acres of surrounding land used for parking for the amount of $510,000 from Cash Foods Ltd.

The sale of the property was subject to the execution of the Sale and Construction Agreement which includes conditions outlined in the Town’s Land Disposition Policy.

The Sale and Construction Agreement also includes a construction licence that permits occupancy of the building and interior renovations to begin before the land sale closes. The Agreement also details the purchaser’s obligations to renovate and utilize the property for its intended purpose as commercial and retail space.

In keeping with the Sale and Construction Agreement, Cash Foods Ltd. has applied for subdivision of the Kinsmen Community Centre building and surrounding land from the adjacent Seniors Drop InCentre building and surrounding land, as well as green space located immediately south of the SeniorsDrop In Centre which remains Town-owned property.

Following completion of the subdivision process, Cash Foods Ltd. will apply for development and building permits before beginning external renovations to the Kinsmen Community Centre.

Continued Investment in Downtown Ponoka

The fact that we are seeing this investment and expansion of retail and commercial space in our downtown is very positive for this community,” says Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett. “Selling the building to Cash Foods Ltd. will increase the amount of commercial and retail activity downtown, bringing more people to shop and work in Downtown Ponoka. It will also generate new assessment and increased tax income for the Town going forward,” says Mayor Bonnett.

The process of selling the Kinsmen Community Centre has followed the requirements of the Town’s Land Disposition Policy. That process began in January 2019 when Council declared the KinsmenCommunity Centre property to be surplus to the needs of Ponoka. The property was then advertised on the Town website and on the public notice board at the Town Office as surplus property with an appraised value of $500,000, as established by an independent qualified appraiser in August 2018.

Underutilized Facility; Annual Operating Losses

“The reason for selling the Kinsmen Community Centre is because the building has consistently been underutilized and has been posting operating losses for several years,” says Mayor Bonnett, noting, “Council has been stating for some time that we want to liquidate properties that are losing money and are underutilized.”

He points out the Kinsmen Community Centre is an ageing building with no future plans for improvements. Financials from 2013 to the end of 2018 show an annual operating deficit for the Kinsmen Community Centre averaging $15,300 per year.

Other Community Facilities Available

Mayor Bonnett notes there are other facilities in Ponoka and the surrounding area to meet the needsof community organizations and individuals who previously booked the Kinsmen Community Centre to host events and functions. These alternative facilities include the Hudson’s Green Community Activity Centre, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 66, the Stagecoach Saloon on the Stampede grounds, the Calnash Trucking Ag Event Centre, the Moose Hall, and various halls operated by churches and service clubs in Ponoka.