The Nation, ON – The Nation Municipality is pleased to announce the official transfer of ownership of the Caledonia Community Hall property to the St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society, an important step toward preserving and strengthening this valued community gathering place.
With this transition, the St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society now assumes full responsibility and ownership of the community hall and the surrounding facilities, including the ball diamond, playground structures, outdoor rink, and multisport court. The Nation Municipality will continue to provide financial support as part of its commitment to collaborating with local groups and ensuring these community spaces remain open and active.
"The St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society has demonstrated tremendous passion and commitment throughout this journey. With the support of dedicated volunteers, the group embraced a new challenge and worked tirelessly to help shape a sustainable future for the Caledonia Community Hall. Their perseverance and community spirit have been inspiring, and we are extremely proud to see them take on this new role. We are confident they will continue to make the community hall a welcoming and active gathering place for years to come," said Francis Brière, Mayor of The Nation Municipality.
“Members of the Board of Directors of the St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society would like to thank the people of St-Bernardin and the surrounding area who proudly demonstrated their attachment to the Caledonia Community Centre and their desire to keep this place open to the community. We thank the many volunteers who have been working for months to organize the transition and takeover of our community centre. We are already seeing positive results thanks to the support of our community, and we anticipate a bright future for our community centre and our park.” Julie Leroux, President of the Board of Directors, St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society.
The St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society is now responsible for bookings and rentals. At this time, reservations can be made through their website at www.st-bernardin.com/english.
Context
In December 2024, Council approved a direction to transition the Fournier, St-Albert, and Caledonia community centres to local organizations. This initiative aimed to support long-term sustainability while maintaining access to these valued spaces.
At the beginning of 2025, The Nation Municipality and the communities involved began a process to establish a transition and transfer model tailored to each community. These efforts led to the formation of local committees and the involvement of existing community organizations.
Transition agreements came into effect in January 2026, beginning the process of transferring operations to the community-based organizations.
The Nation Municipality looks forward to continuing its partnership with the St-Bernardin Historical and Cultural Society and supporting all community groups involved as they take an active role in their local centres.