class space. Over the years, continual work was carried out in the basement. Classrooms were partitioned and a small chem¬ ical toilet was installed that created as many problems as it solved. There were no kitchen facilities. At the annual meeting in January 1996, a motion moved by Kenneth MacLean , and seconded by Donna Lyle, called for a committee to be formed to investigate the space issue. The meeting agreed that a committee formed from member¬ ship of the trustees, stewards, session, Sunday School, and congregation review the matter. This was the first step in what was to become a major project. The committee was comprised of chairman of the building committee Douglas Miller, chair¬ man of the Board of Trustees, Allison Johnson ; Douglas Campbell, Stephen Clark , John Boschma , June MacLean , Donna Lyle, Edith Yeo , Ivan Johnson , Eliza Joppe , Thane Barlow , Dorothy Gamble , and Edward Clark . A congregational meeting was called for April 29, 1996 with a two-fold agenda. The committee presented concrete facts regarding two options for expansion: the cost of revamp¬ ing the basement and the cost of building an addition. It appeared building an addition would require the purchase of an adjacent lot. The committee was able to inform the con¬ gregation that $12,000 had already been donated to the pro¬ ject and that a grant of $4,000 was available through the Youth Vision Project pending the church matching the amount. Three-year interest-free loans were available through Presbytery, and, through the Employment Development Agency, labourers could be hired to work with a contractor for a $7 an hour wage based on a forty-hour week. The com¬ mittee wanted direction. The congregation gave the commit¬ tee permission to move ahead with a proposal to build an addi¬ tion on the north side of the church. Spring and summer slipped away with the next congre¬ gational meeting scheduled for September 18, 1996. The com¬ mittee reported that they were unsuccessful in reaching a desired agreement with the lot owners to purchase the neces¬ sary land for an expansion on the north side. However, the congregation was undaunted by the setback. The meeting approved a motion moved by Kenneth MacLean and 62 United Church and Its People