The Jobber’s House Renovation project at the Bow Valley Ranch
The Jobber’s House at the Bow Valley Ranch in Fish Creek has been part of the charm of this area for three generations, and community members constantly tell us how much the building means to them. The Friends of Fish Creek is in growth mode and we require additional space to develop our social enterprise programs, add staff and respond to the demand for our programs and support to the community and other non profits.
We are proposing to take over and renovate and repurpose the Jobber’s House to support our growth, further support our community, provide a facility to serve as a hub for less established non-profit groups and ensure the survival of this piece of Calgary’s history.
The current idea is to convert the upstairs to one large versatile room to support many functions, the downstairs will contain a smaller meeting space and possibly office space, the basement will contain utilities, washroom and office space. The exterior will be renovated but will maintain the same appearance. We are considering adding a classroom to the rear of the building to increase its utility; this will be constructed in keeping with the current exterior.
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation have funded a feasibility study for the project and currently the building is being examined by experts in the field to establish if the project is feasible and what it will cost to complete. Once we have this document, staff and the board will be looking at our options and deciding how to proceed.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project please contact our Executive Director, Nic Blanchet, for the latest information.
Thank you to AREF for Supporting the Jobber’s House Project
In order to raise funds for the actual upgrades and repurposing we need a plan from a qualified individual supporting the feasibility of the project and outlining the steps to complete it and a cost estimate.
After some discussions in the early part of the year and support from local MLAs Richard Gotfried and Graham Sucha we are very happy to announce that the Alberta Real Estate Foundation has provided a grant to cover the full cost of the feasibility study and project plan.
Their generous contribution of $44,000 will go a long way in getting this project off the ground. Our sincere thanks to the AREF for supporting the Jobber’s House Renovation, and the Friends look forward to sharing our progress on this exciting project.
