Correspondence and Supporting Letter - Strawberry Vale and District Community Club

22 July 2024

To The Members of The Committee,

On behalf of all the members of The Strawberry Vale and District Community Club we would like to thank you all for taking the time to consider our attached application for the Tax Except status per the nature of the organization being a registered non-profit society with the registration number S0003355.

Per the application form we provide the following programs services and benefits to the community.

• Public facility rental for weddings, funerals, birthday parties, neighborhood and community get togethers, meeting and AGM for various organizations, weekly bridge group, exercise classes and many other functions.
• Wednesday night public Bingo offering community outing for 80 participants.
• Thursday night badminton for approximately 20 individuals.
• Rental rates are $450 for a full day rental or $50 / hour for weekday meetings.
• Yealy community dance and bar ($15 / person) with attendance of 125.
• Elections - provincial and Federal for advanced and poling day sight.

Our current membership is 110 members. Membership is $7 for individuals and $10 for families. As you may be aware this hall was originally constructed in approximately 1893 for use by The Women's Institute. The community Club was formed in 1948 and was given trusteeship of the land and building. The original building has had many upgrades over all the years thanks to countless volunteer hours and community support. The club has been a valuable resource to our local area, providing a facility for holding a range of community events. Since 1948, the non-profit Strawberry Vale and District Community Club has operated the hall. The main focus of the club has been to develop sports and educational opportunities for local children and to provide a facility that supports social activities for the local community. Of course things have changed over the past several decades. Sixty years ago, there were fewer recreational options in the Victoria region, transportation was a challenge and families tended to stay in their homes longer. Since then, we've seen the development of many recreational facilities in the area, greater mobility, and changes in society generally, resulting in shifting needs and values.

If you live in the area, please help us keep the hall a relevant and exciting part of Strawberry Vale. Every community needs a gathering place and this is ours. Come out for Bingo night or one of the many other events. Consider booking the hall for your next family reunion or celebration.

If you are interested in being part of this local and grassroots facility, in having your voice heard and in reinvigorating the Strawberry Vale community, please join the Strawberry Vale & District Community Club. General meetings are held the second Monday of each month starting at 10 am in the hall. They generally last for about an hour.

We have a volunteer board and directors that contribute the following volunteer hours:

• Rentals director 20 – 30 hours per week
• Bingo 25 hours per week
• Treasurer 3 hours per week
• Other positions 2 hours per week
• Hall and grounds 2 hours per week

We are in the process of raising funds to replace the roof with and quoted cost of $42,000 for new sheeting and shingles.

The club was able to fund and complete several large projects in the past including demolition and remediation of the 2 non-disabled bathrooms ($24,000), replaced both gas furnaces ($10,000), new window blinds ($1,500) and sanding and refinishing the hardwood floors ($4,500), renovated commercial kitchen and asbestos remediation for $250,000 with funding from the BC Economic recovery fund.

Any financial assistance for the tax exemption would be greatly appreciated.

With Much Thanks, The board of Directors and members of Strawberry Vale and District Community Club

Larry Freeman President, Strawberry Vale and District Community Club info@svcommunityclub.com 11 High St, View Royal, BC, V8Z 5C8