The annual fundraising gala for Creighton Lodge remains a popular event.
A total of 217 people attended the event on Friday night at the Beefeater Plaza. Shelly Veroba, who co-manages the lodge with Judy Pratt, said they had capped attendance at 200 people, but thanks to the demand for tickets, the lodge decided to sell a few more.
The gala started with a four-course meal that included appetizers, salad, the main course and dessert.
“All in all, it takes us about an hour and a half to two hours to get through the four-course meal, and that’s what it’s always been for the last five years: a very relaxing dining atmosphere, and we really enjoy it,” said Veroba.
A few fundraising games followed the supper. Other highlights of the evening included a silent auction and a raffle, highlighted by tickets to a Winnipeg Jets game.
Veroba estimates about $25,000 was raised for the lodge’s trust committee.
“The money that we raise goes towards capital projects,” said Veroba. “Money goes to the trust, and then basically the trust is in charge of fundraising and assisting the lodge with the capital projects they have to do.”
The money is already in place for the lodge’s next capital project, which is the resurfacing of the parking lots. The project is expected to happen this year, and will not only be a benefit for motorists, but it will also enhance safety for residents, since it will create a smooth surface to walk on.
The project went to tender on April 10, and the tender was to be awarded to Chamney Crushing April 23.
Total cost for the project is expected to be $305,000.
“We’ve been fundraising for the parking lot for the last five years,” said Veroba.
The lodge hoped to complete the parking lot resurfacing last year, but when the project went to tender, some drainage issues in the rear of the building were detected.
“We ran out of time, because we ended up not realizing we’d have to put a culvert in, and drainage, so that will be done,” said Veroba.
The lounge expansion, which was completed in 2016, was paid for through the efforts of the trust committee. Also covered through the trust committee has been the removal of old poplar trees that were causing root issues. All of the problematic trees have been removed, and some will be replaced.
The lodge has also replaced all of the windows, the air conditioning in the hallways and the flooring in the hallways.
Creighton Lodge has a list of capital projects to be done. Up next is to start saving for a roof replacement. A preventative roof maintenance program started in 2010, when a consortium of local rural municipalities purchased the lodge.
Flynn Roofing comes and looks at the roof each year, and identifies trouble spots.
“They’re starting to mention to us that maybe in the next five to 10 years, some areas of the roof will need some membrane replacing,” said Veroba.
The south section will be the first to be replaced, she said.
“If you can keep up with the maintenance, and you save for it, because we have sections, then it won’t be that huge of a cost in time, because we’ll just do one section at a time,” said Veroba.
The lodge also has three rooms that will need to be upgraded eventually.
