News Release: Town of Paradise Officially Opens New St. Thomas Community Centre

The Town of Paradise officially opened the new St. Thomas Community Centre today with a ribbon cutting and portrait unveiling ceremony. Mayor Dan Bobbett and Council were joined by community groups, government representatives and members of the first Council of the community of St. Thomas for the event. 

 

“This is an exciting time for our Town as we officially open the newest community and recreational facility for the residents of Paradise, the St. Thomas Community Centre,” said Mayor Dan Bobbett. “The St. Thomas Line area has been experiencing significant growth and this multi-purpose building is much needed in the area. Our residents and our community groups and organizations in the area and throughout all of Town are looking forward to using this new Community Centre.”

 

The St. Thomas Community Centre is architecturally designed to suit the area and to align with the homes and other buildings surrounding it. It is a fully accessible, energy-efficient building. The designers describe it as having a Scandinavian design with a Newfoundland flare. The new building is almost twice the size of the previous structure on the site. A playground is planned and will be added to the grounds.

 

The facility is built on the site of the former Town Hall for the community of St. Thomas and holds special significance in the history of the Town of Paradise. In recognition of that history, a portrait of the first Mayor of St. Thomas, the late Richard Squires, was unveiled during the event. Mr. Squires was also the last mayor of the community prior to it becoming part of the Town of Paradise. The portrait will be displayed in the new Community Centre. 

 

“The location of the St. Thomas Community Centre is a noteworthy part of our Town’s history and we felt it was important to honour that history. Displaying the portrait of the first Mayor of St. Thomas helps share the Town’s history with residents and visitors who use the facility,” said Mayor Bobbett. 

 

The St. Thomas Community Centre is available for community rentals, events, and activities. The Centre includes a large meeting room that accommodates up to 85 people, a large kitchen area to support social functions, and a number of other amenities designed to provide a variety of opportunities for community programming. Rental information on the St. Thomas Community Centre is available by contacting the Town of Paradise or on the Town’s website.