The last time the City of Armstrong unveiled a new City Hall, the Ottoman Empire was still intact, the First World War was taking place, and Albert Einstein was regaling the public about physics.
Safe to say, it’s been a long time. 107 years to be exact.
The unveiling of the new hall, located on the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Bridge Sreet, was attended by numerous dignitaries at the official unveiling on Thursday, June 1.
A free barbecue lunch was provided, as the public clamoured to get a look at the gleaming building.
Ryan Nitchie, a councillor of Armstrong, gave a tour of the new digs, as it features large council chambers, plushy flooring, along with a basement that will act as an Emergency Operations Centre.
“The old building was riddled with asbestos, so this is much needed for our growing community,” he said.
According to Nitchie, back in the early 1900s, the old city hall used to house Armstrong and Spallumcheen council, along with the regional police. After the police detachment got their own building in the 1980s (and Spallumcheen moved out), plans were in place to construct a new building solely for the city.
Armstrong purchased a portion of the land located at the site of the old Armstrong High School with plans to construct. However, budgetary issues, inflation, COVID seemed to endlessly stall the opportunity to build a new hall.
Now, 40 years later, the building is complete. Approximately $4 million of the $8 million dollar price tag was through a loan, at which the city will be paying back within 30 years.
“Without this community spirit and service, our community wouldn’t be what it is,” said Mayor Joe Cramer.
There are also plans in place to construct a demonstration garden on the front lawn.
“I have no doubt that as a centrepiece in the heart of the city, this building will be part of our ongoing effort to to revitalize our historic downtown,” said Cramer.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be a resident of Armstrong.”
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@B0B0Assman
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