Work is continuing on the Ferrier Community Hall, with organizers hoping to open the facility to the public by mid-2026.

Spring work includes plumbing, electrical and painting, along with a major lighting project in the main hall.

Ferrier Community Association president Neil Ratcliffe says the project continues to receive strong support from volunteers and local businesses.

“We have some regulars, but we put out a call whenever we have a work bee, and we always have great people show up,” he said. “It’s typical rural Alberta — working together to get things done.”

The project has also received a $125,000 grant from Clearwater County, allowing the association to apply for matching funding through the 2026 Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP).

“Having this funding is absolutely necessary,” Ratcliffe said, adding the group expects to learn by June whether its application is successful.

The association was forced to withdraw a similar CFEP grant application in 2024 due to a lack of funds.

One of the largest remaining big ticket items is the kitchen. Ratcliffe said recent changes now allow kitchens to qualify for provincial funding, and a fundraising campaign to help cover appliance costs is being planned.

In 2025, Clearwater County committed $200,000, plus insurance costs, toward the project.

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Fundraising chair Elsie Nelson said that while the county’s contribution is a strong start, the project still required nearly $590,000 in additional funding to be completed.

The Ferrier Community Association began planning a replacement hall in 2016 after determining the original facility was no longer adequate.