The Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans of Canada have opened up their new location in Grande Prairie after nearly two years of work to seal the deal.
ANAVETS Unit 389 Manager Hayley says the occasion was celebrated during a well-attended soft opening on December 10th, and says the opening has been a “long time coming” as renovations were ongoing for 15 months.
“I think everybody was very excited to get open and welcome members back, the veterans back, and really anybody from the public who is looking to join our club,” she says.
Hayley describes the need for a new facility as a “process,” that unfortunately left several members without a social club for nearly two years. She says members have already begun using the new services and were eager to return after such a long wait.
“They’ve kind of been waiting in the process of finding a new location from the old one to downsizing to this one,” she says. “They were kind of homeless, we had two years where there was no club to go to, so they’re anxious to get to spend time in this new space, and socialize with each other once again.”
Hayley says there were a few reasons for the downsizing, including efficiency improvements and a desire to make the club more approachable for outsiders.
“[It’s] more cost-effective, for sure, less utility. That was a gigantic location they had before, so it’s more just, gearing it towards the veterans and friends and family of them,” she says.
Despite the decision to downsize, Hayley maintains the club will continue with its usual amenities.
“Members of the public if they want to come in and share a story and have a beer, we have dart boards set up now and crib boards, we have cards to play, we will have a shuffleboard, a 12-foot shuffleboard donated as well that should be here, the next week or two too.”
The facility has been up and running since the tenth of December; however, Hayley indicates a proper grand opening is being planned for sometime in the Spring, with the hope that warmer weather will attract more of the public.
