New Glasgow native in Alberta awarded fund for Stella Maris Church Hall

EDMONTON The Stella Maris Church Hall is one step closer to getting a wheelchair ramp thanks to one man a Canada-length away.

CLAC Alberta Representative Simon Fedun, left, presents a cheque for $1,000 to Jon MacInnis for renovations to the Stella Maris Church Hall in Pictou. SUBMITTED

Jon MacInnis, who grew up in North End New Glasgow but works in Edmonton, applied for and received a $1,000 grant for the church.

The funding came from CLAC, an independent Canadian labour union, as part of their Building Communities Together program.

The church, built in 1865 and recognized as a Canadian heritage property, was nominated by MacInnis, a member of Construction Workers Union, Local 63, affiliated with CLAC.

MacInnis is an electrician who has travelled out west for the past 10 years and is currently employed by PCL Energy Inc. in Edmonton.

This church hall provides huge benefits to a rural community in Nova Scotia, said MacInnis. The hall is in need of a new wheelchair ramp because currently it is not inclusive for all individuals using the Stella Maris Church Hall.

Because his mothers family has a connection with the church that spans 50 years, the church was the ideal candidate for CLACs grant. He hopes the inclusion of an indoor wheelchair ramp will make the hall more inclusive for all members during community gatherings.

There is no ramp going into the downstairs, which holds receptions for funerals, dinner parties, and community gatherings, said MacInnis.

CLAC is an independent Canadian labour union representing over 55,000 workers in a wide range of sectors: construction, health care, retail, service, transportation, manufacturing, and others. Based on principles that promote the values of respect, dignity, fairness, and integrity, CLACs approach to labour relations stresses membership advocacy, co-operation, and the long-term interests of the workplace community.

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New Glasgow native in Alberta awarded fund for Stella Maris Church Hall