TOWN HALL STEPS TO BE REBUILT PAGE
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St. Marys Independent
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.granthaven.com
Issue #1305
Thursday, March 19, 2026
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GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
St. Marys council has approved a key piece of the fundraising strategy for the proposed Community Commons at 14 Church St. N, giving the St. Marys Public Library board and its capital campaign fundraising committee the green light to offer naming rights for rooms within the future intergenerational community hub. At its March 10 meeting, council unanimously supported a recommendation approving (STEWART GRANT PHOTO) naming rights for rooms within the Community A FRESH CUP AND A NEW OWNER Incoming owner of Snapping Turtle Coffee Roasters Jessie Doogan is pictured with present owner Sal Commons to be offered at 75 per cent of the Vaianisi, who has owned the business since October 2022. See full story on page 7. estimated construction cost for each space. The move is intended to encourage significant private donations while helping offset the capital costs associated with redeveloping the former Mercury Theatre building. “We’d like some input from you tonight on naming opportunities,” library CEO Sarah Andrews said. “This is a bit tricky, we know, because financial times are hard and we want WENDY LAMOND Department that will be given to households everyone in town to feel like this project is for them and that they can contribute to it at any that don’t currently have one. Independent Reporter “This generous donation will help ensure donor level. Our campaign is starting with the A special presentation was held at the St. more St. Marys residents are protected from higher-level potential donors and trying to Marys Fire Department on Tuesday, March the dangers of carbon monoxide,” West said. make some strides and build some movement 10, that could end up saving local lives. The Hawkins-Gignac Foundation was to the campaign, but over the next three years, John Gignac, executive director of the founded in 2010 after Gignac’s niece, Laurie we do anticipate having a variety of elements to Hawkins-Gignac Foundation met with local Hawkins, and her whole family succumbed to this campaign, right down to read-a-thons with Fire Chief Phil West, chief fire prevention of- carbon monoxide poisoning from a blocked children who are going to raise maybe $20. “ … Those donors are equally as important ficer Chris St. Clair and firefighter Brandon vent on a gas fireplace. Gignac, who was a Dundas to donate more than 60 carbon mon- firefighter for 34 years, wanted to find a way to us because we want everybody to feel like oxide (CO) detectors to the St. Marys Fire CONTINUED TO PAGE 11 CONTINUED TO PAGE 5
Hawkins-Gignac Foundation donates ADULT over 60 carbon monoxide detectors to PROGRAMS St. Marys Fire Department
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Council backs naming-rights strategy for 14 Church community hub campaign
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