Community league to build Edmonton’s first net-zero community hall

For over 60 years, the Ritchie community hall has been a place for residents in the neighbourhood to host events and community programs.

Currently, the building has two halls with an estimated capacity of 160 people, something that is no longer suitable for a growing population in the neighbourhood.

“With the activity level of our community and how engaged we are with the programs and the events, and the gathering, we need a space to get together,” said Nicole Ritchie, treasurer at Ritchie community league.

For more than 60 years using their hall, the South Edmonton neighbourhood of Ritchie is planning to build a new one.  The new hall will be Edmonton’s first net-zero community hall that will be powered by geothermal and solar panels.

“Our community is very, very involved in environmental concerns We want to be sustainable, we want to be responsible. We’re wanting to do things in the most environmentally friendly way possible,” said Ritchie

The building has already secured fundings from federal and municipal governments, along with community savings and grants, totalling 4.2 million dollars. Now the league is looking to raise 1.5 million dollars through donations and community events to reach their goal. with the owner of aspen coffee, already helping with the funding. She hopes the new hall will have a positive impact on the neighbourhood, as well to their  business.

“Having a community hall like this definitely does bring you a sense of community into the neighbourhood,” said Jasmine Venkatraman, co-owner of Aspen Coffee.

 It brings people who have that attitude, who have that energy, into the neighbourhood and into the community. And those are the same people that we want to have in our business.”

Once they’ve raised the 5.8 million dollars, Ritchie says they are planning to start construction next summer and the current hall will be removed and converted it into an outdoor tennis and pickleball court.