Public meeting to determine future of C.J. Peacock Centre in Cereal

Residents are being invited to help shape the future of the C.J. Peacock Centre as Special Areas plans to step away from operating the facility after 2026.

A public meeting is scheduled for April 22 at 7 p.m. at the centre, where community members will be asked to share input on future ownership, management and operations.

The C.J. Peacock Centre in Cereal.

The discussion follows feedback gathered at the March 5 annual general meeting of the Cereal Community Centre group. An information summary from that meeting, along with key decisions facing the community, will be presented.

Special Areas officials say the meeting comes after direction from the Special Areas Advisory Council in late 2025 that the municipality should no longer operate the centre, noting it does not run other community halls in the region.

The C.J. Peacock Centre has served as a central gathering place in Cereal for years. The former school building was transferred to Special Areas after the Village of Cereal dissolved in 2020. It was later designated as the community centre, with upgrades completed using provincial transition funding.

Since 2021, the facility has been operated on a temporary basis by Special Areas.

With that arrangement set to end, residents are now being asked to help determine a long-term, sustainable plan for the building.

Organizers say the meeting is open to anyone interested in the future of community space in Cereal. No RSVP is required, and refreshments will be provided.