Streams Community Hub seeking grant to establish permanent home in Shelburne

Written By MARNI WALSH

Shelburne's Streams Community Hub is edging closer to securing a new, permanent home in the community. 

Last month, representatives from the organization approached Shelburne Town Council with a proposal asking the Town to donate land for a building project the local non-profit organization was working on. 

As a first step, Juli-Anne James, who co-founded Streams along with her husband, Andrew James, says, “We have applied for the Community Foundations Canada Investment Readiness Program - a grant that will help us to bring in a consultant to help us put together a multi-year strategic plan, and provide governance training for our board of directors.”

At the Jan. 27 Council meeting at the Town Hall, Streams Community Hub representatives proposed a design, with the Town passing a motion to support the project in principle.

“The design includes space for classrooms, a recording studio, board room, shared workspaces, pop-up retail space, a multipurpose hall, computer lab, commercial training kitchen, and a coffeehouse, and more,” Juli-Anne James says.

Streams originally asked for land at Fiddle Park, but Julie-Anne James says Council wisely suggested a location nearer to the center of town, adjacent to the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre which will be more accessible to youth already serviced. The project is estimated to cost roughly $4 million, which  the Streams' founders say they will fundraise.

Juli-Anne James says they hope that receiving funding for a consultant will help to position the organization to “effectively solicit, accept and manage” these funds. As well, Ms. James said she would ensure the community is involved in the growth of Streams every step of the way. 

“As part of the process, we will be engaging the community, youth, and other service delivery organizations to inform the proposed design and ensure that this project serves us all well,” she said.

Andrew and Juli-Anne James founded Streams Community Hub as a way to help Shelburne youth “discover passion, potential and purpose.” 

Programs focus on enriching the lives of youth in the community by providing activities at little or no charge whenever possible. Finding space to accomodate the growing need for such programming in Shelburne continues to be a challenge. 

“We are limited in options for programming to when the schools are available,” says Ms. James - and they aren't always - highlighting why we need a dedicated space for this mission.” 

Learn more about Streams Community Hub and how to support this home grown organization at streamshub.org.