Help community halls, don't axe them

Wow! What a very disturbing article I read in last week’s Hants Journal about community hall safety. Has Big Brother taken over our halls and churches and minds?

First, I will agree that halls, churches, community groups, or “small-assembly buildings” should be aware of food and fire safety. The course that most go to regarding food handling is wonderful and very informative.

But let us put this in perspective, by putting these very harsh demands against halls as I will refer to -- and this pertains to churches, and other small-assembly buildings and groups -- you have just closed over 50 per cent of the halls/churches in Hants County if these go into effect.

You say, “no way.” I say, “yes way.” By asking a hall to upgrade, that hall is going to have to raise money. Let us say it is $15,000 to upgrade. It would take some halls 10 years to raise that over and above their regular costs. By shutting down their suppers, etc. you have just doubled the time it will take them to raise the money.

So, thank you for shutting down the soul of your and my community.

If the government wants the changes, then the government should give them the money to make that change or lend a helping hand.

We know that safety inspectors have always been a small fear of some; the fear that you might be doing something really wrong. That is their job and I respect that. I know that they are trying to protect the public, but let the public have the “choice” if they want to go to an event or not.

By putting unreasonable financial burdens on these groups and by forcing them to stop breakfasts, dinners, suppers, pot-lucks, etc., you have done just that.

I love going to these events. The first thing I look for in the paper is what is going on this weekend. The fine tradition of a potluck or supper or breakfast out, is one that has been going on for over 150 years here in Hants County. It never hurt anyone before, why now?

Isn’t that what being a Maritimer is – being social, gathering and volunteering.

You are not just hurting the halls/churches. You are hurting the seniors who look forward to these events to get out and “socialize.” You are hurting a community when there is a disaster in an area. Who is the first to respond?

You are hurting the families of a house fire. Who helps raise the money?

Volunteers of these halls raise money to help the fire victims, or the church opens the door for the searchers for that lost little girl up the road by providing hot meals and warm resting place.

Or what about even the pleasant event of a wedding reception? No hall or church, where do you go?

Next are we going to close down card parties; someone might get a paper cut on the cards and bleed and give someone AIDS. Let the people make the decision what they want to go to. No one is forced to go to a supper, especially if they don’t see the place as safe.

I moved into this area because of its community involvement, halls, schools and friendliness. Hants County is now growing because of various reasons and because the baby-boomers babies want to work in the city but live the rural/country life. They are looking to Hants County. They are looking at community values and what they offer. Go ahead and take that away. And what does the big picture look like for them now?

I have spoken to quite a few halls, councillors, etc. and the idea is they don’t want these regulations to go through, either. Maybe the regulations could be changed to not include small groups or halls that don’t have these events on a regular weekly basis.

Just an idea.

Do you know what the number two money-raising event in the Maritimes is? Meals! You might as well close down outdoor gatherings that have been going on for years. Are those barbecues not dangerous?

The spin off here is, the other municipalities will follow and halls will fall. When a hall falls, it rarely re-opens.

The churches and halls warrant our support as they are the heart of our communities in the Maritimes.

The argument by our safety inspector is to upgrade and you will have no problem. And besides, he is just doing the job that the municipality hired him to do, and the way the law looks at it.

Then, “lend a hand or give a solution, NOT an axe.”

Cary Hollett, with input from others