The City of Kamloops plans to take over operations of St. Andrew's on the Square in March 2020 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

ST. ANDREW'S ON THE SQUARE

Kamloops Heritage Society disagrees with City taking over St. Andrew’s on the Square

Oct 8, 2019 | 7:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — There is a disagreement between the Kamloops Heritage Society and the City of Kamloops over the operation of St. Andrew’s on the Square.

The society has run the heritage building for more than 20 years, but the City, with direction from council, has told the society it will be taking control next March.

St. Andrews was built in 1887, and over the last 132 years has become a fixture in the downtown Kamloops.

In 1996, the original Presbyterian church was taken over and renovated by the Kamloops Heritage Society. The society has poured a lot of volunteer hours into beautification.

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“A lot of people have put their heart and soul into this building,” said President of the Kamloops Heritage Society Peggy-Jo Broad. “They really care for this building and really enjoying showing the public, bringing the public into the doors.”

However, the society’s control over St. Andrew’s is about to change, and the City claims the society first brought up the idea of receiving help.

“This started about five years ago when the society came to the City of Kamloops and said, ‘Our model isn’t sustainable and it’s not operating the way that will be sustainable in the future. We’d like you to look at a five-year plan and the City will take it over,'” said deputy mayor of Kamloops Mike O’Reilly.

Inside of St. Andrew’s on the Square (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The City served the society with a letter, saying it would be taking over. It came as a surprise to the society. While the society acknowledges it reached out for the city’s help with maintenance, it feels its plan is sustainable.

According to documents provided by the Kamloops Heritage Society, it has contributed $286,000 of its own dollars during its 23 years operating the building. The society has used the money to keep the place vibrant and beautiful so it can host weddings, funerals, art and craft fairs, and many other events.

“We actually have functions booked every day, something more than one function a day — up to four functions some days,” noted Broad. “We’ve actually been in the black since we started operating.”

The City feels it is the best organization to operate the building.

“Our track record for operating heritage buildings in the city somewhat speaks for itself,” said O’Reilly. “If you look at the old courthouse and museum, specifically, we’ve won provincial and national awards since taking over those facilities.”

However, the heritage society feels all the volunteer hours that go into making St. Andrews on the Square what it is will disappear under the city’s watch.

“If you look around the building and see the old antique pews, you see some of the artwork on the walls, you see all the contents of this building. None of that will remain, so this character will be lost,” said Broad.

The society is hoping people write to city councillors and have their voices heard on the direction of St. Andrew’s on the Square.