Many things are at a standstill because of COVID-19, but the Chemainus Rotary Club is moving forward with one of its important projects that’s been in the works for quite a while.
Groundbreaking was conducted Friday for the Rotary Kin Beach picnic shelter. It’s a joint project between Chemainus Rotary and the Municipality of North Cowichan.
Rotarian Tom Andrews explained it’s “part of the Chemainus revitalization plan and plans for Kin Park. The Rotary Club volunteered to take on and contribute to the project.”
The shelter is being built between the washroom building and the beach.
The municipality is providing the funding for the materials and “we’re supplying the sweat equity - or labour,” said Andrews.
Rotary is making a cash donation of $5,000 to the municipality for construction costs. Ken Stanton and other Rotarians will be doing the construction.
“It’ll be 20x20, sort of post and beam,” noted Andrews. “It can fit two or three picnic benches.”
Construction will take place over the summer.
Stanton undertook a similar project for the Youbou community, working in conjunction with Laketown Ranch.
Eventually, the new Kin Beach picnic shelter will be available for birthday party bookings or other special occasions.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club’s opening of a bottle drop-off site was a great success on Saturday. People were lined up to take in their bottles to the Rotary bunker across from Subway.
Proceeds will be going to Rotary charities.
“I bet it’s over $1,500, maybe close to $2,000,” said Andrews of the first Saturday haul.
A truck from the Return-It Depot in Duncan will be coming Friday to collect the bottles, cans and other refundables.
“If people missed it, we’ll be open again same hours, 10-2, this Saturday,” said Andrews.
The site will remain open Saturdays throughout the month and for the foreseeable future.