There is another change coming in Lil’wat that will make a huge impact on our community. I am talking about the closing, or should I say the retiring, of the Old Hall.
The Old Hall was built in the 1950s by community members who volunteered their time and the materials. The men worked on the building and the women cooked in the Williams’s kitchen to feed the workers. Those were the days, eh?
There are many stories that go with the building that has served us for the past six decades. The first story is of the Dick Joe family who own the land that the building stands on. The land will be reclaimed by the family once the building has been dismantled. Thank you to Auntie Vera, Daniel and Richman for their kind generosity.
I have heard stories from an Elder about the time and work that went into the building. This Elder, who was too young at the time to help with the construction, helped in the kitchen with the cooking.
Another story from an Elder is about the Old Hall being the only building big enough in what is now known as the Sea to Sky corridor to host a meeting of the chiefs and mayors and their community members from Lillooet to Lions Bay. They were meeting about the development of what we all now know as Whistler. It would be interesting to see the minutes of those meetings to see if Whistler became what the chiefs and mayors envisioned.
On Saturday (Aug. 7) there will be a day of celebration loaded with many activities as Lil’wat prepares to retire the Old Hall once and for all.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a Swap Meet/Loonie Auction in the Old Hall. If you would like to make a donation to the celebration, just bring it along with you. And if you want a table for the Swap Meet it is first-come, first-served, so get there early. There will also be another visit from the past: five-cent drop-in bingo.
From 1 to 4 p.m. there will be events for families and kids including musical chairs, a scavenger hunt, a mixed shoe race, a three-legged race, a sack race and much more. These events will take place outside on Rancheree Street, so bring your chairs, your sunscreen and your bug spray.
From 5 to 7 p.m. there will be hand drumming and a mini Pow Wow, including a Smudge Ceremony. Bring your hand drum and/or your big drum and join the fun.
From 7 to 10 p.m. there will be a talent show. If you play an instrument, sing, are a comedian or have another talent to share, you can sign up throughout the day for a spot in the show.
To wind up this exciting day of celebration, the Go-Getters ball team are organizing the last dance from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and 4Q2 will be the host band.
Light refreshments will be available throughout the day, or you can find food from one or more of the vendors set up in the hall or outside on Rancheree Street.
To keep Rancheree open for racing and vendors, parking will be available from Sixa Sixa to the graveyard road and from the Crystal Hall to the Lake Road.
So come out, Lil’wat, and celebrate a building that has served us for many years. Come share your stories of the times you have spent working, volunteering or celebrating an event at the Old Hall.
