A post on social media has garnered some attention in a bid to help save the Horsefly Community Hall.
Judy Macleod posted on social media calling out community members for not stepping up to take on board positions with the Horsefly Community Club.
She made the post out of desperation after no one came forward to take on roles with the board, which manages the hall, where community events are held, putting the future of the club and the hall it manages, in jeopardy.
Macleod herself is the president of the Horsefly Women's Institute, which works hand in hand with the community club on many community initiatives and events.
Her grandparents helped build the hall, and her family has deep roots in the community.
While Macleod herself no longer lives in Horsefly, she said she has a 56 year history with the community and she still lives not far away in Miocene. She said she can't take on any more, as she has a full time job, a part time job and animals and a partner to worry about.
"I've done a lot and I continue to do a lot," she said, but she was also adamant someone has to step up.
Macleod doesn't want to see the hall, and all the things which happen in the hall, not be there for the community, especially not long after significant upgrades.
The Horsefly Women's Institute contributed more than $12,000 towards the halls' new kitchen.
But more than seeing those funds go to waste if there was no club to manage the hall, Macleod said the hall is a key facility in the community, and many community events and groups rely on it. The women's institute holds their monthly meetings there, their annual fundraiser takes place in the hall, the hall is home to yoga classes, taekwondo classes, Old-Fashioned Christmas, dances, 4H events, movie nights, Arts on the Fly events and more.
"Once you lose that hall, it's a pain in the butt to get it back," cautioned Macleod, noting it would take a lot of paperwork to get the hall open again for community use.
She said volunteer burnout is a problem in the community, despite having gained a number of new residents in recent years, so she is hoping some of the younger residents can come out to lend a hand.
Macleod is currently planning the annual Horsefly Women's Institute (HWI) fundraiser which sees 125 women invited to the hall for lunch, a silent auction, bake sale and more to help support the HWI initiatives.
The funds go towards three high school bursaries for students from the community, to help people who need it with funds in the case of emergencies such as medical travel, and the other events the group helps with like Easter, swim lessons, Halloween, and Christmas.
Macleod said if the hall closes, the HWI would have to look at renting some other venue for their fundraiser, like the Miocene Hall.
She said the next Horsefly Community Club meeting will take place Nov. 7 at the community hall.
"I'm working so hard getting the word out there," she said, with over 800 people living in the Horsefly area, many of whom take part in events at the hall.
"I'm worried about it and I'm fighting for it."
