The Basilica Recreatwn Centre — Before and After

in Moncton until the closure of the catalogue department. He then worked for the Royal Bank for a short time, and returned to the Island to work for the

Mcdonald Restaurant Corporation.

During Don’s tenure of 20 years a very successful and popular kindergarten program was introduced. The Boys and Girls Club was about to fold because of a lack of finances. The centre was able to ensure its continuation. A group of seniors were also looking for space, and as a result, a very active program was started for Saturday and Sundays. On the 25th anniversary of the centre in 1988, a banquet was held to honour and thank past board members and volunteers.

When interviewing Don, he stated that it was always a pleasure to go to work, because every day was different and a challenge. His greatest satisfaction

was to see the centre busy and filled with activity. He was impressed with the young people and admired their willingness to help when asked to take on some

responsibility.

The first board of directors, under Eugene Cullen, was appointed from the members of the Layman’s Association. The pastor was an ex officio member of

the board, and communication was quite good.

The Basilica, like other parishes, now had a parish council that served as an advisory body to the pastor on the social, physical and spiritual aspects of the parish. The finance committee of the parish council was indirectly involved

in the Rec Centre because the parish saw itself as ultimately responsible for the financial health of the centre. The finance committee found that it was spending more and more time dealing with the affairs of the centre. We now had a situation where there was a board of the centre that was responsible for the administration and finance of the centre, and the finance committee of the parish council was also involved in the administration and financial affairs of the centre, with the pastor a member of both boards. It is easy to see how this could cause some problems.

Father Tingley was the pastor from 1984-1999, and George Gaudet was chair of the board when the parish decided to dissolve the centre board and have it come under the control of the finance committee of the parish council.

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