The new location for ANAVETS at 102 Street and 106 Avenue. Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

ANAVETS hopes to open new location this summer

Jun 5, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie’s Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada branch hopes to be moved into a new location this summer.

Renovations are being done at what used to a be a convenience store on the southwest corner of 102 Street and 106 Avenue.

ANAVETS Charity and Public Relations Officer Gary Webster says just before and just after COVID, membership was declining, meaning the organization did not need the bigger building it had at its previous location near Macklin Field.

“(It) took a couple years to find something. You know, something that we could afford and something that would serve our purposes for what we had, thinking of what our membership would require in the future, and our community.”

Webster says the club hopes to be moved in by the first of July. In the meantime, the upgrades are continuing.

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“(The) exterior walls are fine, it’s just interior walling (to be changed). We’re going to have a little kitchen area and a main reception area, or the club room, where cards and darts will be played. We’ll have a food preparation area too.”

Webster says the general membership seems happy to have a new start.

“We involved the membership in our decision of the building to occupy, so they were involved with that, which was good. (It) gives us more confidence that this is what they want to see in the future and who can predict the future?”

“We just want to ensure we serve our membership and the community the best that we can, just like we did in the past.”

Webster says requests for donations have been sent out to businesses. They also have grant writer helping them out. He adds it is hard to fund raise before they have anything to show people.

Webster says they have bought some new furniture and equipment for the new location. He adds anyone who might want to make a donation can send an email to anavets1@telus.net

Webster says the club currently has around 35 members and the new location would have room for 101 occupants.

Among the activities ANAVETS organizes are the wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph in Jubilee Park on Remembrance Day. Webster says the new location means people have a spot to come back to after the ceremony.

ANAVETS also supports the Cadets, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Special Olympics, and the Salvation Army.

Webster says they also hope to help some new charities as the club accumulates money.