North Shuswap Community Hall: 90 Years of Volunteer Dedication
By Sionna McTavish
The North Shuswap Community Hall in Celista stands as a hallmark of volunteerism at its best and a symbol of what many helping hands can accomplish. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Hall’s official opening in 1934, with celebrations to be held on June 22.
For decades, an overarching goal of the Community Hall has been bringing people together. Whether working to build and maintain the structure and eventual Society that was formed, or for the countless events and being a gathering place for the community, the Community Hall has endured the test of time and remained an important and cherished part of the North Shuswap.
Alison Elmes authored an in-depth history of the Community Hall in the 12th edition of the Shuswap Chronicles, published by the North Shuswap Historical Society. Her recount takes us back to the very beginning with a nearly unanimous motion being passed to approve plans for construction of the Hall “in 1928 at a meeting of the Celista Agricultural Institute”- an organization consisting of “local farmers and residents who oversaw the well-being of the general area.”
Due to a lack of funding and in the “pioneering spirit”, Alison emphasized that “just about every able bodied man in all of the communities of the North Shuswap volunteered labor, materials, and/or expertise for this project.”
The architectural design and building plans for the Hall were custom made by a volunteer named Billy Jack Brown of Magna Bay, who had trained at a technical school in Vancouver for three years. It was in 1931, that the “foundations of the floor were laid”, wrote Alison. Cedar logs were donated for the floor beams and set on concrete pillars. Next, came installation of a “hand hewn timber” subfloor.
“Before the walls were even raised, dances and events were held on this rough floor, along with the first North Shuswap Fall Fair,” said Alison.
New flooring was donated and installed by volunteers in 2019 - Back L-R: Jody Evans, Rob Weaver, Leona Bischoff, Bob Kendal, Terry Zinck, Loretta Greenough, Brian Taylor, Veb Farr. Front L-R: Tom Barnhardt, Karl Bischoff, John Watson, Carson Bischoff, Chris Pisesky (photo contributed)
The construction process would ensue for several years, and after the roof was finished with donated hand-hewn cedar shakes, coastal fir flooring was installed by a local gentleman named Mr. Shepard and his son Edgar. Thereafter, the Celista Hall was hailed throughout the Shuswap as an unrivaled place to dance!
Several generations of families and friends, or those who would become such, have boogied, been wed, sung Christmas Carols, hosted meetings, lectures, memorial services, exercise programs, bingo, and an extensive array of celebratory and/or community events – from wine and cheese tasting nights to lobster dinners and the popular Farmer’s Market – at the Hall.
It is because of the tireless and extraordinary efforts of countless volunteers over the decades, including those of the North Shuswap Women’s Institute followed by the North Shuswap Community Association (NSCA), that the beloved North Shuswap Community Hall has remained an integral focal point for gatherings along the north shores of Shuswap Lake.
Additionally, volunteers and their committees have been instrumental in preserving the structural integrity and charm of the original Hall by donating their valuable time, skills, and materials. In some instances, the projects have been of a grand scale and demand months of planning and coordinating in addition to a lot of hard work. An example being the installation of a new wood floor, spearheaded by Karl Bischoff and Loretta Greenough in 2019.
There are always opportunities to contribute to the longevity of the Hall and with the North Shuswap Community Association. The organization is welcoming volunteers for the April 21 Celista Community Hall Spring Clean Up, along with a pancake breakfast for the annual Mother’s Day Brunch on May 12.
A big thank you is extended to Alison Elmes for generously providing her article to reference in this month’s Sidekick. A complete version of her article of the Hall’s history, with many historic photos, can be found in the Shuswap Chronicles #12, available for purchase in local grocery stores. For full set of #1 to #12, call Jackie McKinnon at 250-955-0555.
North Shuswap Community Hall (photo taken April 2019 - credit Kicker)
For more information about volunteering with the NSCA, Community Hall rentals, and other current/upcoming events, please visit: northshuswapcommunityhall.ca. All other inquiries can be directed to Leona Bischoff, email: nscommassoc@gmail.com
