The Caribbean Community is determined to keep its Community Centre Open

The Council of Caribbean Organizations of Manitoba (CCOM), the umbrella organization of the Caribbean Islands' cultural organizations, called a meeting last evening to discuss the future of their Cultural Centre on 1100 Fife Street which they acquired in 2008.


The centre has faced some financial setbacks in the face of the current recession as well as the sudden withdrawal of an offer to purchase the building which caused CCOM to incur further losses in terms of putting out dollars to rent another space while having to deal with the mortgage on the current building.

In true community spirit the Caribbean people and organizations came to the rescue of CCOM and helped to bail in out of its financial predicament. The organization managed to sublet the rented space and is now focussed on finding ways to keep the current Centre functional and solvent.

An interim management committee headed by Margaret Strachan, CCOM's Chair, has been struck to deal with the emergency situation. An election will be held at a later date to put a permanent Committee in place.

The community members present praised the efforts of Margaret Strachan, to keep the Centre open.

The meeting resolved to develop an aggressive plan to keep the Centre open as the pride of the Caribbean organizations.

The organization has made an open call for more volunteers to get involved, especially young people who are the future of the community. The organization plans to hold monthly socials and is open to ideas from community members on innovative fundraising ideas. There is a social tonight at 8:00 p.m.



Historical time-line CCOM

1981 - A liaison group was formed to represent the Caribbean Community Organizations

20 years joined Folklorama - established Folklorama Management Committee to run the Pavilion

2006 CCOM bought the building on 1100 Fife Street

The stakeholders are the member organizations- owners of the building.

A committee was struck to manage the building

As a fund raising strategy CCOM created a separate charitable organization Caribbean Community Cultural

Centre Inc. to provide charitable receipts to encourage individuals’ donation.

This organization later believed it was independent of CCOM and was the owner of the Centre

The Centre fell behind in its payments and saw no way to go forward

The Management Committee put the building up for sale

This was later found to be unconstitutional as the building did not belong to the Community Centre.

At a meeting of the stakeholders, the decision was made to sell. An offer was made, CCOM accepted, they prepared to move, got a place and then the offer of sale was rescinded. CCOM was left holding the bag. They now had two buildings to pay for. Luckily, they found an organization to sublet the new place.

The Community appears to recommit to keeping the building.

They need your help and support.  Call the Centre today and offer to help.