“The Church mouse was very cold and the boiler was very old! “ So started the campaign kickoff in 2012 to replace the aging boiler and heating system in St Saviour’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral. The 1899 heritage jewel of Nelson had been suffering through an aging, inefficient heating system for a number of years, not only affecting regular church services but audiences at the small venue music concerts that had become popular in recent years. Over the next 8 years, through donations, campaigns, Beer & Burger events at Finley’s and the selling of chocolates during concert intermissions, the little mouse that could, raised over $90,000. This was then topped off with a $137,071 Built Heritage Grant from Heritage BC through Columbia Basin Trust, plus Fortis rebates, enabling the church to replace the system with 2 new modular, high efficiency, condensing boilers, all associated piping, pumps, buffer tanks, zone-controls, as well as 2 new fan coil ventilators to ensure a more efficient and timely re-heating of the large Church sanctuary. All told, an over $200,000 project! Plans are now being made to upgrade the ceiling fans which will enhance the heating system even further. The project is also expected to reduce heating and energy costs substantially and lead to a more sustainable building operation. The warm church mouse thanks all Nelsonites that donated, drank beer, ate chocolates and supported the grant applications. A special thanks to Heritage BC, Columbia Basin Trust, Fortis Gas, Venture Mechanical Systems and Rocky Point Engineering for making this happen, especially during the current pandemic.
