Renovations in store

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On Oct. 23 more than 150 people gathered at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton for a fund-raising gala called 'Heart of the Art,' featuring the work of Rob Glenesk. The evening included a luncheon, speeches and a chance to view limited edition signed prints that were for sale to help support the Sacred Heart Renovation Project.

Reverend Jim Holland, OMI, said he would like to see members of the church and the community form a group called 'Friends of the Sacred Heart Church, which would be responsible for organizing projects to keep the place in good repair.

Holland said he would like to see renovations to the basement this winter, and in the spring repairs done in the yard and a paint job to the church.

"This reception this evening is to raise funds for the renovation project and to make people aware of what we are doing. We are doing this so that we can have a better place to come to," he said.

Holland would also like to see an elevator installed as part of the renovations so that people who are in wheelchairs could access the basement area by themselves.

"Right now we have a ramp so that people could go up the stairs to church, but if the people in the wheel chairs have to go to the bathroom they have to be lifted up and carried down stairs," he said.

The church was built in 1913, and Holland said that Dec. 23 marks the day when the church had its first service 90 years ago.