Located at 26 Graves Street, the Rabbitown Community Centre is a multi-purpose facility that also serves the residents of Empire Avenue, Hoyles Avenue and Little Street, as well as Mitchell, Stabb, Cowperthwaite and Keegan Courts. The centre opened its doors in 1986 in a housing unit that was provided by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing (NLHC). The corporation continues to maintain the property and provides base level operating funding to the centre. 

From the beginning, the primary goal of the centre has been to improve the lives of families by providing a wide range of programs and services with special emphasis on the needs of children and youth. During the past fifteen years, the centre, with its dedicated staff and volunteers, has far exceeded this goal. It offers a wide range of programs including an After School Drop-In Program, Healthy Baby Club, Parents and Tots Program and a Saturday morning Breakfast Program.

Paula Bradbury, the centre's executive director, commented on the significance and excitement
surrounding the 15th anniversary celebration. " We are pleased to have the opportunity to say thank-you to community members, volunteers and staff who have been involved with, and contributed to, the centre for the last 15 years. We would also like to acknowledge the support and encouragement that we receive from our many community partners including NLHC, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Health and Community Services and the School Children's Food Foundation, just to name a few. We are delighted that representatives from these organizations will be able to share in our anniversary celebration."

The mission of the Rabbittown Community Centre is to provide access and opportunity for community members to participate in social, health, recreational, educational and employment services and, on November 24, staff, volunteers and community residents will celebrate the centre's success in fulfilling this mission. 

Participating at the ceremony will be Lloyd Matthews, MHA for St. John's North, representing Oliver Langdon, Minister Responsible for Housing. Mr. Matthews said, "I've had the opportunity to visit several community centres and see first hand the difference that they make in the communities they serve. The staff and volunteers of the Rabbittown Community Centre should be very proud of the work that they do, and the fact that they have now reached this very important milestone. I wish them many more years of success."

The 15th anniversary celebration for the Rabbittown Community Centre will be held at 26 Graves Street, and is set to begin at 1:00 pm.

Date: Saturday, November 24, 2001
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: Rabbittown Community Centre
26 Graves Street
St. John's, NF
 

For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone:  (709) 724-3055 
E-mail:  releases@nlhc.nf.ca