​Old-fashioned country meals return to Kinloss Community Centre

If you’ve been missing those old-fashioned country meals at the Kinloss Community Centre, you’ll be excited to hear that they have returned.

The first one is a roast been dinner, this Sunday, April 7, from 4-7 p.m., at the community centre, located on Highway 9, just west of Kinloss. Cost is $23 for adults, $10 for children (age seven to 12), and free for children under the age of seven.

The community centre has quite a bit of history. It was once a one-room schoolhouse and students walked several miles to attend. Many former students remain active volunteers at the school.

One of the first teachers was Agnes MacPhail who went on to become Canada’s first female Member of Parliament (MP). She fought for human rights and a voice for women.

In the late 1960s, the building went on the auction block. It was purchased by neighbours and became the Kinloss Community Centre. It was decided that the centre could be used, for a nominal fee, for 4-H and Women’s Institute meetings, as well as bridal showers, family events and funerals, with the goal of keeping the community together.

The Women’s Institute decided to offer chili on Saturday nights to snowmobilers and since that was well received, volunteers built the new kitchen and washrooms at the centre.

Independent of any government assistance the facility continued to thrive. Sunday dinners were organized with the proceeds for hall maintenance. Historically, these dinners have been well-attended.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on hall rentals and dinners but loyal supporters have kept the centre operating.

In recent years, a new well was dug with the assistance of a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, providing safe, clean drinking water at the centre.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has been supportive of the historical centre and has funded a new furnace and flooring upgrades to improve accessibility.

If you are new to the area, you are welcome to join this group of caring volunteers many of whom have supported the hall for years.

If you would like to rent the hall for family events or meetings, contact 519-270-5973.