🚨 Important... Please read 👇
Dear the Nakusp yoga community,
I moved here in 2017 and in January of 2018 I started offering a couple yoga classes a week out of the upstairs space of The Old Fire Hall. Almost immediately I was met with so much support and this little yoga community grew rapidly!
Hundreds of you have attended classes, brought your friends and family from out of town, purchased yoga mats and accessories, FILLED the special events we've hosted, and shared parts of yourselves and your lives with me and the rest of our community.
The success of Koots Roots Yoga has been largely due to the space itself being central, well maintained, clean, cozy and beautifully lit with windows looking out over our village with Saddle Mountain in the background from one side and Hufty's on the other. Perhaps most importantly —thanks to the dedication of The Old Fire Hall Collective to the community— the space is very affordable to rent, which has allowed me to keep the class costs far lower than average.
In June of this year The Old Fire Hall Collective recieved a letter from the Village informing the us that it is their intention to sell the old fire hall siting;
“the Village has never collected money to place into reserves to maintain this property"
• Since The Old Fire Hall's acquisition of the then derelict building in 2010, the Village has not invested a single dollar to maintain the property. The collective has paid for the repurposing of the building and all repairs and maintenance to date.
“leaves the taxpayer at risk of significant expenses when repairs are required”
• The Collective has offered to put into writing that our non-profit is willing to continue to accept the maintenance and upkeep of the old fire hall. This was not accepted.
There is no other space that even comes close to what that studio is. I've personally spent hours putting up twinkle lights, decorations, wall hangings, window coverings, and bringing in plants and other items to make the space more inviting. People before me have donated items as well such as mirrors, small tables, lamps, etc. and many of you have graciously brought in some lovely pieces of art and other ornaments.
The potential loss of The Old Fire Hall puts a pit in my stomach. If it goes, it will be the end of Koots Roots Yoga as we know it. Sure there's space in the arena auditorium which is where the village is trying to force to go, but it's not the kind of space that fosters the experience we're looking for... And it would take a lot of time and money to make it such a place. It's possible that the Village may be willing to renovate part of the arena, but it means that they would be selling a perfectly good building just to spend money to renovate another building that will never compare. Not to mention, when would these renovations be done?
Because the RDCK funds the arena they may also have a say in how it runs, so moving there could mean having to coordinate with two bureaucratic entities, whereas at The Old Fire Hall I have the freedom to run classes and programs without having to jump through any hoops. I have truly enjoyed the last eight years of holding the space, growing together and making memories with all of you and I sincerely hope this is not the end!
✨ Kristi
Your opinion matters! What can you do?
1) We have more information to share, please attend one (or all) of the open house meetings at the Old Fire Hall, and tell others about them too:
Tuesday, Sept 9 - 6:00pm
Wednesday, Sept 17 - 6:00pm
Sunday, Sept 21 - 1:00pm
The Fire Hall Board will be there to answer any questions that you may have. Please bring any ideas that will help us to continue to serve our community at The Old Fire Hall.
2) Contact the Village Council members and the CAO and demand a public review of the sale of the Fire Hall. Please do this by email so there is a written record.
CAO Wayne Robinson
Email cao@nakusp.com
Councillor Aidan McLaren-Caux
Email amclarencaux@nakusp.com
Councillor Mason Hough
Email mhough@nakusp.com
Councillor Dolly Edwards
Email dedwards@nakusp.com
Councillor Tina Knooihuizen
Email tknooihuizen@nakusp.com
Mayor Tom Zeleznik
Email tzeleznik@nakusp.com