Gala funds to fix sexual assault centre
Heather Sinfield, community initiatives director with Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services, spoke to Rotarians on Monday about this Saturday’s gala to raise $450,000 for repairs to their building’s foundation. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes the footing of the nearly 100-year-old Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services (LSAS) building, located downtown.
LSAS is hosting a special 40th-anniversary gala at the WLS Convention Centre this Saturday to raise $450,000 to fix the crumbling foundation.
The gala theme is a Night Under the Stars and all proceeds go towards repairing the base of the 1927 community building.
The details behind the repair project were revealed by Heather Sinfield, LSAS community initiatives director during a presentation to the Rotary Club of Lloydminster on Monday.
Facility CEO Tammy Shopland was also on hand.
Sinfield says an inspection last July by Bioclean Disaster Services indicated the foundation was shot and needed to be repaired within a three-year window.
“So we are looking at a $450,000 fundraising goal which is very substantial,” said Sinfield.
“I am speaking at Rotary today to bring awareness of that need and how we need to sustain that foundation for another 100 years and keep our services going for our community and surrounding area.”
Sinfield says a new building would likely cost significantly more to move into and create the same type of safe space they have for their clients and partners.
“The soundproofing in the walls and the standards that need to be met with our partnership with the RCMP—there are just a lot of hoops and hurdles to make that happen,” she explained.
“There has been so much love and compassion put into this building already with donations from our community and surrounding area that we want to honour that space.”
LSAS won’t have to close during the