Conception Bay South takes ownership of Manuels River Interpretation Centre
After years of operating as a non-profit, board asks town to take over
Manuels River has long been a staple of Conception Bay South's history and natural landscape, and this year's budget revealed the town will assume ownership of the popular interpretation centre located on the river bank.
It's a home base for guided hikes, educational programming on the area's fossils and an event space, operated as a non-profit since 1992.
C.B.S. will take over to the tune of $300,000 for "enhanced operations and planning," according to the budget document.
Town council previously contributed $125,000 to the centre's operations annually, but this year the board requested additional help.
Michelle Hawco is the chair of Manuels River Community Inc. She says partnering with the town was the board's best option to maintain the mandate of "sustainability, growing minds, and wellness."
"Despite our best efforts, we just weren't able to maintain responsibility for the building and all of the operations," Hawco told CBC News. "It's been a number of years that we've been under that financial stress."
Hawco says there were multiple factors that made it increasingly difficult to operate the facility. Fundraising and event revenue alone wasn't enough.
She says the organization faced challenges since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but like many other non-profits, the pandemic exacerbated those challenges.
Manuels River Community Inc. will still continue as a small board to engage in education, trail maintenance and fossil preservation.
Hawco says the town of Conception Bay South has always supported the cause and she sees the move as a positive change.
Mayor Darrin Bent does, too.
He says the takeover of the interpretation centre simply adds another asset to the town and its residents.
"The trail and the river are absolute gems for our town," Bent said.
He ensures the building "is in good hands," adding he's excited for more indoor community space, something that Conception Bay South is lacking.
Bent and Hawco both say the details and plans for programming are still being worked out, but will be announced throughout 2025 after consulting with the board and community.
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With files from Julia Israel
