Letter to the Editor: To have, or not to have—that is the question.

It has recently come to my attention that Special Areas is not going to continue maintaining the Cereal Community Centre as it has in the recent past. Yes, Special Areas has assumed responsibility for overseeing what was formerly the Village of Cereal. Yes, Special Areas supports local recreation facilities within its geographic area through the allocation of recreation grant funds. For example, in 2025, the Berry Creek Agricultural Society received $31,354.94, the Buffalo & District Agricultural Society received $33,849.94, the Village of Empress received $56,697.50, and the Town of Hanna received $250,968.85. Compare this to the Cereal Community Centre (CJ Peacock) receiving $20,768.29. This comparatively meagre amount is insufficient to operate the Cereal Community Centre.

As in other communities, the Cereal Community Centre is used by the community in various ways, such as a place to hold funerals (an example was my husband Fred's Celebration of Life), turkey suppers, 4-H speak-offs (for example, on January 30, where I had the privilege of judging seniors at the club level), Monday night bingo, Tuesdays Cereal Playground, Wednesdays Quilting Club, Special Areas ratepayer meetings, etc.

Special Areas has requested that the community meet to discuss the future of the Cereal Community Centre prior to its meeting in March. Therefore, a community meeting is planned for the beginning of March to discuss the viability of operating the Cereal Community Centre. If the Cereal Community Centre is to remain open for the community as a place to gather, please plan to attend.

Submitted by Liz Roberts
RR 1, Oyen, Alberta