Community Centre

1964/65

A non-profit association, known as « Club Athlétique de Notre-Dame, was founded by Gérald Aucoin and Ernest Gallant. Its purpose was to provide youth with sport and leisure activities. A decade later, the board of directors expanded the Club’s mandate and built a community centre with bowling alley, baseball fields, etc.

1979

The board of directors of the “Club Athlétique de Notre-Dame” undertook the building of a large community center with leisure and sport facilities. From the beginning, the centre was very busy. Equipped with a kitchen and bar, the large hall was ideal for dancing, meals, events, weddings, anniversaries, private parties, and other activities and events. Many fundraisers were held there. The split-level basement housed bowling alleys and multi-purpose rooms for non-profits organisations such as the Knights of Columbus, Golden Age Club, ATV, literacy classes, etc. People came from afar for the music, bingo, cards, amateur nights, carnivals, cultural activities, book launchings, etc.

On the community ballfields were held two national women’s softball championships, in 1988 and in 1991. The local team did very well at both national events, especially in 1991 when the host team, the Athletes, won the Canadian Championship. The community centre underwent major renovations in the early 2000s when the bowling alleys were dismantled, and the space converted into an exciting youth centre known as Place Jeunesse Centrale.

In 2011, weight of snow collapsed the roof during the night of Wednesday, January 26. Luckily no one was in the building at the time as the evening before, the hall had been full of people playing the card game of “200”. The damage, however, was extensive. A group of volunteers teamed up to coordinate the necessary work leading to the ravaged building being demolished and the construction of a new community centre. In 2012, exactly one year later to the day, the new bigger one storey building opened its doors to the public. The Notre-Dame Community Centre remains very active.

1988

In the summer of 1988, Notre-Dame greeted softball teams from across Canada and their entourage as it hosted the Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Ball Championship. Games were played on the Community Centre’s ball fields. While the local team was a strong contender, the winning team was the North Delta U-Guys, BC. Notre-Dame hosted another national championship in 1991 at which time the local team (The Athletics) won the championship title.

1991

Notre-Dame hosted the 1991 Women’s Fast Pitch Canadian Championship.   Its local team the Athletics, won this national championship.

2002

A non-profit organisation known as Jeunesse en Action Inc. (JEA) was formed to provide youth with social activities. After talks with the Community Centre board of directors, an agreement was signed, and JEA rented the vacant basement space where the bowling alleys had been. The space was totally revamped and converted into a modern club with pool tables, fooze ball, table tennis, air hockey, dance floor, cantine, coat check and office.

2004

The youth centre opened and was a buzz of activity with dances, camps, gatherings, parties, improv afternoons, etc.

2011

In January 2011, the roof of the Community Centre collapsed under heavy snow. This was devastating for the community. Without delay, residents mobilised, and plans got underway to build a new centre.

2012

In January 2012, one year to the day after the first centre was destroyed by a collapsed roof, the new Notre-Dame Community Centre was opened. It remains very busy to this day.

NOTRE-DAME COMMUNITY CENTER
List of Presidents

1993-1994      Paul Chavarie
1994-1995      Paul Chavarie
1995-1996      Joe Poirier
1996-1997      Joe Poirier
1997-1998      Joe Poirier
1998-1999      Joe Poirier
1999-2000      Butch Morton
2000-2001      Butch Morton
2001-2002      Omer LeBlanc
2002-2003      Omer LeBlanc
2003-2005      Régis Bourque
2005- à date      Lenny Léger

Place jeunesse centrale 2004/2008

Pic-Nic Bazar Program 2006

Fundraising – Choir Neil Michaud

Community Centre 2011/2012