FITZROY HARBOUR – It was a year of hard work for the Fitzroy Harbour Community Association (FHCA) and good times for the community, as the FHCA summed up its 2018 during last Thursday’s (March 28) annual general meeting.

The FHCA hosts many events throughout the year, but the headliner is Harbour Days in July.

“Once again the event was well attended and successful,” FHCA President Karen Taylor said in her President’s Report. “We appreciate the hard work by the organizing committee and the volunteers. Thanks to Campbell Fuels for sponsoring this event. This is a major fundraiser for the FHCA.”

The 2019 edition of Harbour Days will be held July 4 to 6, 2019.

In 2018 the FHCA also organized a family Halloween Party, Christmas Craft Fair, Children’s Christmas Party and New Year’s Eve Party.

“Our sports fields were busy with regular bookings and hosted events including the Fitzroy Men’s Fastball League annual tournament and the annual Fitzroy Soccer Club adult tournament,” Taylor said.

In addition to private bookings such as weddings, funerals, and other gatherings, the hall also hosted other public events such as the municipal election polling station, the provincial election polling station, the federal Member of Parliament Town Hall, Ontario Federation of Agriculture dinner, St George’s Holy Hops Brewfest and St Michael’s euchre afternoons.

“Going forward in 2019, our hall is well booked and is busy in the upcoming months with private events,” Taylor said.

The FHCA is also thinking about hosting a Spring Fling event this coming May.

Regular programming is also a big job for the FHCA organizing Fitzroy Harbour’s West Carleton Outdoor Hockey League, shinny and public skating, minor softball and the children’s drop-in camp at the hall for the ninth consecutive summer.

“This year we had an excellent skating season on our outdoor rink,” Taylor reported. “We were open for 75 days, and there were very few days for which the rink had to be closed due to weather. We had excellent community support for the rink canteen volunteer program, including parents from the outdoor hockey league. Thanks to all volunteers that worked a shift as this helps us obtain an extra grant from the City of Ottawa. Our softball diamonds and soccer fields were in great shape this past summer thanks to the hard work of our grounds keeping crew and our new ball diamond groomer.”

The FHCA books are rock solid and will be officially reviewed shortly.

“Despite our official books not being ready for 2018, we can provide some high-level financial information,” treasurer Mark D’Arcy said in his report. “Statements are also available upon request for our most recent financials completed by our bookkeeper for 2017.”

D’Arcy reported the FCCA “was fortunate to receive several grants in 2018.”

That included their annual operating grant of $40,200; rink grant of $4,800, Rural Community grant which paid for the new diamond groomer of $5,000; and a Hydro One grant for ball diamond improvement in the amount of $500.

Other sources of income included bar and canteen sales in the amount of $57,600 (gross); field and hall rentals at $12,200 and program and membership fees at $11,800.

A new ATM “has been a great addition” for those who did not bring enough cash and has paid for itself through fees.

The FHCA had a total revenue of approximately $153,900 in 2018.

Major expenses for the FHCA include $63,700 in wages and employment costs; $38,600 in bar and canteen expenses; $7,500 in program expenses; and $5,100 for the new groomer.

“Overall, our cash expenses were approximately $142,000,” D’Arcy said. “The FHCA is in a good financial position with approximately $80,800 in operating funds in the bank at year-end and a long-term investment fund for capital improvement at approximately $46,000.”

While the 2019 board of directors is set, the FHCA does not pick its executive positions until their first meeting in April.

For more information on the FHCA, click here.