The new Carriage House at the Seaway Kiwanis Children's Animal Farm was officially opened with a ribbon cutting Wednesday morning at Canatara Park.
Project lead Toby Bidtnes says the reconstruction was done by Lambton College students in the Renovation Technician Program and members of the Local 1256 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
"John Timmers and his students, they built the train station for us and so when this came up he was right on board," says Bidtnes. "The apprentices came out and worked two days a week for six months and this was done and it's just amazing."
He says in the field training is invaluable.
"There's no question about it. There's nothing like it. I went out to the college a couple of times to meet with John and he was in the back parking lot and the students were out there hammering nails putting together trusses or whatever they were working on," says Bidtnes. "Nothing is like building the real thing. It's when you see the fruits of your labour."
The Judith and Norman Alix Foundation contributed half of the $100,000 project cost, with the other share funded from Kiwanis TV Bingo proceeds.
Adam Alix says they couldn't be more thrilled to see the outcome.
"It was one of those projects that felt really good from start to finish," says Alix. "We love the fact that there was involvement from the other local individuals and organizations. People donating their time and energy and resources to make this project happen. Our donation is a part of the puzzle and it's an important one, but it really comes down to the individuals that put pen to paper and made this project happen."
The carriage house free for public use and accommodates summer Kiwanis Club meetings and the groups main events, Christmas on the Farm, Easter in the Park and Canada Day.
The original carriage house was donated to Canatara Park and moved here in May 1971.
Its deteriorating condition led the Seaway Kiwanis Club to launch the replacement project.
