A membership fee is being explored by the Sister Kennedy Centre Advisory Board in Fort Frances.
The seniors’ centre is one of few in Ontario that does not charge an annual fee.
Its funding comes mainly from the town of Fort Frances, which provides about $35,000 annually.
Some other centres offer yearly memberships as low as $15 in Dryden to as high as $50 at some southern Ontario facilities.
Board Member Debbie McTaggart sees a membership fee at the Sister Kennedy Centre helping with their future expansion plans.
“I just think it would be a good way of having extra funds or to put aside to help with the new building, the addition we want to put on,” says McTaggart.
John Reader cautions about implementing fees.
He says many of the current users have varied incomes and may not be interested in spending extra money.
“I don’t think anybody that’s attending right now would have a problem with a small fee, like about 15 bucks or something,” says Reader.
Councillor Rick Weidenhoeft, one of two council reps on the board, says he’d like to see an updated financial statement first to determine if any fee is warranted.
“I guess I would base my membership suggestion on would be how do I finances look, do we need more money, how we spend our money, how do we generate revenue,” says Weidenhoeft.
An update on the finances is to be made at the board’s next meeting.
No recommendation on the fee is expected until then.
