An unmistakable change has slowly crept across Fulford Community Hall during the past few weeks. Passers-by will have noticed the green-painted siding progress into a striking mustard yellow as a restoration project many years in the planning takes shape.

The particular shade of yellow — chosen by a committee of Fulford Community Hall Association members — is one from a palette of heritage colours produced by the supplier. The colour is the most visible aspect of a theme that unites the project as a whole: the hall’s historic and continuing heritage to the community.

Ron Ateah, president of the hall society’s board of directors for the past two years, said that what began as a simple plan has evolved into a much larger project.

“Initially it started off as the hall needed to be painted. Then it became apparent that it wasn’t just paint but significant restoration would need to take place.”

Built in 1937 in the space where two former halls stood and burned down, the building has long been a focal point of south-end life. The hall is currently used approximately 300 days of the year and is home to a busy gymnastics club, the folk club and a weekly rollerblading night. It is the location of craft fairs and flea markets, weddings and dances.

Brian Finnemore has been involved with the hall association for the past 15 years. As former president, he oversaw some significant improvements in the past. Perhaps the most important was the purchase of the land surrounding the immediate building, which allowed for the construction of a septic field and parking lot. Improvements to the interior included new stoves and a dishwasher for the two kitchens, and replacement of the stage with storage areas large enough for gymnastics equipment.

Finnemore is now the liaison between the south Salt Spring Old Age Pensioners’ group and the hall association. The seniors have a separate but attached building at the side of the hall.

“We tried to make the hall more user friendly,” Finnemore said. “We spent a lot of money on upgrades and now the hall is used almost daily,” an improvement from the “slump in interest” Finnemore saw when he first got involved. Finnemore said planning and fundraising for the current project began almost seven years ago.

The hall’s new improvements will ensure the exterior’s long life. Architect Jonathan Yardley has been instrumental in finding funding for the work, by assisting the board in getting the hall’s heritage status recognized.

That process, as Ateah explained, first involves preparing a Statement of Significance that lists a building’s qualities in terms of heritage and cultural significance. With this document in place, access to funding is available through Heritage BC and the Heritage Legacy Fund.

With Yardley’s help the board has secured $25,000 towards the project from the Heritage Legacy Fund. An additional $30,000 has come from the Shaw Estate, and help has come from the Salt Spring Foundation, the CRD and the Old Age Pensioners. Slegg Lumber and Windsor Plywood have each contributed towards materials.

Most of the restoration work is being completed on-island. Paul Adams is replacing the siding and Gilles Gaudet is applying the wood stain. (Ateah explained that stain is being used rather than paint because with an uninsulated structure, moisture from the interior escapes through the walls, making it essential for them to breathe.) Vintage Woodworks in Victoria, a firm specializing in heritage work, will be taking care of the wooden sashes for the windows.

In the future, Yardley and the board will pursue getting an assessment through Heritage BC that will tell them what should be fixed and what should be left alone. For now, fixing the siding and windows is the immediate concern.

This week, the windows will be removed and replaced with plywood or temporary windows while the new wooden sashes are constructed. The entire project is expected to wrap up in around five weeks.