Latest news with #renovations
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Geelong family looks to join Ceres elite after buying home at auction
It's looking like it's going to be one of those years in Ceres, the Barrabool hills village where, as property booms go, homes are selling like hot cakes at present. The year is not quite at the halfway mark and already four houses have changed hands in Ceres, and a fifth is up for sale. For a tightly-held village with around 70 homes, that's double the average two sales annually recorded over the previous 20 years, excluding properties passed down through families. 4 Thomas St. The five-bedroom residence retains its country charm and caters for large families with updates such as the farmhouse style kitchen with an IXL wood stove sitting alongside a Bosch freestanding electric oven, a butler's sink and a dishwasher. The circa-1916 weatherboard has open fireplaces in interconnected family and dining rooms, which both sport high ceilings and built-in shelving. The 2229sq m property sold for $1.435m after the auction. 'We had one bidder and passed it in and from there we had post-auction negotiations with that family from Geelong,' Mr Poustie said. 'They're going to be making the change to live in the Barrabool hills, which is very exciting. 'We expected two other groups to compete, but finance timing restricted that, so it came down to the one party.' Mr Poustie said the location was prestigious, with most interest giving positive feedback on the character home and the land size. 'Most people will be looking to do some renovations and that probably restricted a few buyers who just weren't prepared to that the plunge with a builder,' he said. 'I think in five or six months time, a few people might look back and regret that.' Mr Poustie, who said there was a significant interest in the property in the first two weeks of the campaign, said growing confidence was leading to more homes being put up for sale in Ceres. 'It's just timing that a lot of people haven't been wanting to put properties on the market, but just in a last six months there's a lot more confidence that the buyers are out there,' he said. 'This one is interesting because it sits on just over half an acre. It's a really blue-chip position as it's off the main road. 'Thomas St has got some great houses and it's pretty hard to get over half an acre in Ceres. It think it'll look to be a good buy in ears to come and it's going to be quite a property once the complete the renovations.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘A treasure to this community': Fritz Sick Pool reopens following renovations
Fritz Sick Pool has reopened after undergoing extensive renovations to bring the facility up to accessibility standards over the past few months.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘A chance to survive': Toronto ice hockey league fears for future due to loss of arena
Concerns raised about renovations at Weston Lions Arena will leave local team without place to play Inside her office, Weston Minor Hockey League President Lesley Bannard sits surrounded by trophies—a sign of the organization's history. These days Bannard isn't wondering whose name will appear on each one next season. She is fearful that Weston Lions Arena and her organization will not see next season. Weston Lions Arena Weston Lions Arena is pictured here. (CTV News) 'All we're asking for is a chance—a chance to survive,' she says. According to Coun. Frances Nunziata, the City of Toronto has entered into a leasing agreement with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) to turn Weston Lions Arena into the next MLSE LaunchPad. A similar space on Jarvis Street downtown offers free access to multiple sports like basketball and soccer to many in the community. 'It means that there won't be any ice left at Weston Lions Arena. They're going to take it and make it a multi-sport facility,' says Bannard. Weston Minor Hockey League President Lesley Bannard Weston Minor Hockey League President Lesley Bannard sits in her office at Weston Lions Arena. (CTV News) Back in April, city council passed a motion to engage with MLSE on using the arena located near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West as a site for a possible LaunchPad. Nunziata called it a monumental and transformational opportunity. When asked about the ice surface, the councillor provided a statement that said, 'Regarding ice for the Weston Minor Hockey League, I have committed to work with city parks staff to identify ice space for the 2025 season ahead.' Nunziata noted that the free programming provided by MLSE is something that she wishes was available when raising her own family in the area. 'I want to play one more season here' Weston Lions Arena has a rich history. Built in 1949, the structure has a vintage wooden ceiling. The sand under the ice is said to have been donated by former Leafs owner and man who built Maple Leaf Gardens, Conn Smythe. It has been featured in numerous television commercials and was used in the movie 'Score: a hockey musical.' Seven-year-old Hunter Williams just finished his first year with the Weston Minor Hockey League. He needed help to make it happen and the organization gave him an assist. 'Being a single parent, it was hard to kind of see if we can juggle the cost of it,' his mother, Brandy Williams, said. 'I got in contact with Lesley and she was great, and she found me funding.' When asked about the arena, Hunter says, 'It's sad to say, because it's been here for a long time, and I want to play one more season here.' The arena is also famous for their French fries. 'The French fries are really good,' said Hunter. Weston Lions Arena french fries Weston Lions Arena french fries is pictured here. Weston Lions Arena donates all profits from their French fries to the local food bank. In 2024, that was $25,000. Diana Stapleton from the Weston emergency food bank says, 'Losing a major donor is very scary, especially now when food bank use is at its highest ever.' For Bannard, the arena is part of her family history. Having played here as a child, she came back to coach as an adult. Bannard was even married inside the arena at centre ice. Lesley Bannard wedding Lesley Bannard gets married at centre ice inside Weston Lions Arena. (Supplied) Bannard says an MLSE Launchpad could be great for the community. 'I see the bigger picture,' she says, adding, 'I see what MLSE is bringing here and ultimately it's going to be amazing for this community. There's a lot of people in this community who deserve to have something like that here.' What she doesn't understand is why the ice surface would have to be sacrificed. 'As somebody who has an 18-month-old daughter at home who I can get on the ice for this season, she's never going to skate here. And that makes me really sad,' Bannard said. There is an online petition calling on provincial and local officials to secure a home for the league.
CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
Equestrian coach who cared for some Ross Farm horses calls for transparency
Upgrades to the provincially funded museum have been under scrutiny over the condition of horses there. The farm has undergone renovations aimed at making improvements for the animals. Watch Amy Smith's interview with equestrian coach Susan Fraser, who helped care for some of the horses.
CBC
10-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Murray Harbour Community Centre preps for emergencies with $185K in upgrades
Social Sharing The Murray Harbour Community Centre has received significant renovations to help it better support the community, especially in times of emergency. The upgrades, which took more than two months to complete and cost around $185,000, were made possible through multiple funding sources, including the P.E.I. government's Rural Growth Initiative and Reception Centre Resiliency Fund. Along with the renovations, the centre is now officially designated as one of the province's reception centres, a place where residents can find shelter, food, power and support during emergencies, including the aftermath of severe weather events. Pam Oickle, a Murray Harbour councillor and chair of the municipality's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) committee, said it's crucial for small communities like hers to have local emergency centres. "Part of the issue is that we are unlikely to be first on the list for the restoration of power, water, anything like that," she told CBC's Island Morning. "In addition, we tend to be surrounded by a large number of unincorporated areas that don't have a hub to access. So we serve a very large community that we view as... our neighbours, but in actual fact, they may not actually live right in the municipality." Improving emergency preparedness Improvements already completed include accessible door entrances, steel kitchen countertops that are easier to clean and disinfect, new appliances, heaters in the bathrooms, and a new passageway from the main hall to the rear entrance. Oickle said the need for upgrades became clear after the devastating impact of post-tropical storm Fiona nearly three years ago. The storm left many Island communities, including Murray Harbour, without electricity for days or even weeks. "Our community centre became a hub for those folks during that time," she said. The centre, which had a generator, managed to provide residents with hot meals and a place to charge their phones. "Most folks in this area are not on municipal water and sewers, so this gave them an opportunity to have access to clean water as well," Oickle said. That experience made it clear the centre needed to become an official reception centre, she said. The designation allows the facility to apply for provincial grants to retrofit spaces with the equipment and upgrades necessary to support residents in emergencies. "We needed to work with our provincial EMO partners in order to receive that designation, and when they come in and have a look around, there's very specific things that they have listed in order to meet that requirement," she said. "We also needed to have a visit from our fire marshal in order to ensure that we were compliant with all the fire codes." "Once that was all complete, then we were able to receive our designation, which then meant that we were able to apply for grants as well." But Oickle said not everything could be covered through government funding. "There is a certain amount of funding that needs to be done by the community itself." Some planned projects are still on hold, including the installation of a washer and dryer, as well as a shower.
