The District of Invermere wants to finish the CPR Lodge and have it operational by the end of May.

With that in mind, council April 24 unanimously agreed to authorize district staff to complete outstanding work on the CPR Lodge, including the construction of washrooms, completion of exterior painting, replacement of broken windows and masonry work. The work will cost $45,906.94 not including HST.

Additionally, council agreed to have the district pay Maggie Street Developments to project manage the completion of the washrooms in the amount of $3,838.94.

While the completion of that work will make the old lodge, located near Elizabeth Lake and Pynelogs Cultural Centre, operational within, some exterior work will still need to be completed.

“Landscaping is still required including replacement of the pathway, construction of a new pathway to provide accessibility to the washrooms, creation of green space including future bocce play area,” reported district chief administrative officer Chris Prosser. “The District has included $67,500 within the Financial Plan to complete the building and landscape surrounding the area. This includes a $7,500 donation that was received for the sale of the piano,” he said.

Volunteer labour has helped bring the old lodge to workable standards, as well as taxpayer funds, noted Mayor Gerry Taft.

“This has been pretty contentious,” he said of the relocation and restoration project involving the historic railway lodge. When the work is all complete, the district will have spent about $100,000, while volunteers helped raise a further $49,000.

To add such an attraction and facility to the district for only $150,000 is “pretty good value for the money invested,” Taft said. He also noted he is hearing from people who have “changed their tune” about the district’s plans for the lodge. “They’re saying it fits the area and it’s a nice asset for the district,” he added.

The volunteer group “has kind of dwindled away,” Prosser said, noting the facility will be entirely operated by the district, which should be able to generate revenue from the lodge.

“The funds allocated will complete the building and make it useable for public and private functions.  To date, we have received three requests to host weddings within this building and it has the potential to generate revenue for the district to host a variety of seasonal functions. The completion of the washrooms will provide another asset to improve the Kinsmen Beach / Rotary Park area and provide another all season facility for general public to use,” he reported.

Coun. Spring Hawes said she would like to see interpretive signage added to the site to inform visitors and locals about its historic significance.

Prosser said that isn’t included in the current budget, and would cost about $5,000.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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