The SPLASH Centre—a program that provides mental health and recreational programming to young people in the Harbour Grace area—is making a public plea for support to help keep its doors open beyond mid-September.
Hayward Blake, a member of the board of directors, says they have been informed by the English School District that they must vacate their current location at the former Harbour Grace Primary School because the building is being sold off.
The building, which was built in 1988, also houses a number of other offices including Communities Against Violence, the TC Family Resource Centre, the Royal Canadian Legion, Eastern Health and the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association NL among others.
Hard morning explaining to 40 children, their parents and 15 summer students that this might be their last SPLASH Summer Day Camp. We can't allow this to happen #SaveOurSPLASHCentre @HaywardBlake1 @LynnDiamond1 @Judymarilyn_Mc @VOCMOpenline @Jeremy_Eaton @nlnewcountry @NTVNewsNL pic.twitter.com/JAyk129qHT
— Splash Centre (@SplashCentre) July 14, 2021
Blake says while the NLESD has been working with the SPLASH Centre’s board to ensure their programs continue, the centre has been presented with two possible plans, one of which has been rejected by the local town council.
One scenario involves the town taking ownership of the building, free of charge with the SPLASH Centre leasing the building from the town and assuming all operational costs. That’s not something the town was willing to entertain. The other scenario involves transferring the building from the Department of Education to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure with the SPLASH Centre assuming all operational costs.
They’re calling on MHA Pam Parsons to work with the appropriate government departments to transfer the building to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.
