Gabriola Commons - an ambitious new target
By Ken Capon
Submitted for the Commons
Tuesday, June 30 2009
The Commons has become an important part of life for many Gabriolans. People from other places are flabbergasted when they find out what has been achieved by our community. Beyond the new cob wall, which can be seen from the road, are two community gardens with sixty individual plots or allotments, an experimental garden, a new blueberry patch, an orchard, a woodworking shop, a large house with several meeting rooms and the home of People for a Healthy Community.
The Gabriola Commons really is something we can be proud of.
In 2007, many Gabriolans became the first monthly donors, who stepped forward to ensure the mortgage at The Commons could be paid. Together with some new donors, their contributions have allowed the Commons to continue to flourish. It was hoped that the mortgage debt could be eliminated by major donations from foundations and businesses, but the downturn in the economy has made that difficult. As a result the mortgage continues.
It’s a substantial community achievement to be successfully carrying the mortgage through donations by individual islanders. However, at the current rate it will take many more years to pay the mortgage off. In other words, our children will be asked to carry the responsibility.
Instead, we want to pay off the mortgage in just a few years. Therefore, the volunteers at the Commons are launching a new campaign to triple the number of monthly donors. If we can pay down substantial annual amounts on the principle, the number of years of payment could be cut in half or more, and many thousands of dollars in interest saved. This would pave the way for the development of the performing arts centre, the commercial kitchen and the woodwork shop, as well as future projects, for use by Gabriolans.
The Gabriola Commons Foundation recently acquired charitable status which makes fundraising much easier. To become a monthly donor there are several options:
- Visit our website: www.gabriolacommons.ca.
- Visit www.CanadaHelps.ca and enter Gabriola Commons Foundation.
- Email Commons_Info@shaw.ca.
- Phone Ken Capon 247-0079.
- Watch for our volunteer fundraisers at Folklife Village and the Farmers’ Market in the upcoming months.
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