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E xtrEmE makEovEr Mustard Seed renovation project is the height of community building Don Descoteau News staff
I
t’s Sunday and a transformation is taking place at the Mustard Seed in Victoria. Not the kind of spiritual renewal that happens most Sundays in its chapel on Queens Avenue, but an overhaul of the physical kind. A small army of volunteers wield rollers and brushes, layering on fresh coats of paint, while others do the grunt work of ripping off drywall or old flooring to make way for new materials. The work will upgrade the entire main floor of the downtown service provider, which is home to the city’s primary food bank. It is the culmination of almost two years of research, planning and consultations, overseen by HeroWork’s Paul Latour. “This is not just an extreme makeover, it’s an event,” he said, noting a documentary film crew will capture the project from start to finish. As part of the preparation for the project, Latour, who works
part time as a server at Oak Bay Marina Restaurant, volunteered at Mustard Seed. “I spent six weeks doing every job in the place and interviewed staff to get a better sense of what was needed.” After that process, he says, “I felt the reno, while huge, was doable. It’s all powered by story.” By that he means getting potential partners to buy into the power of potential for such a project. Beside the major renovations at the building, the plans also include a massive food drive around the region (see Convoy of Awesome, Page A11), to help the struggling food bank replenish its dwindling stocks. While that community lightning rod will be a mega-event unto itself, it is the renovation that will provide lasting impact for the organization. “This is probably a four- or five-week reno that we’re going to do in eight days,” said project manager Kent McFadyen, who organized the trades volunteers for this major undertaking. More than 70 local firms have donated everything from materials, expertise and skilled labour to catered meals for the volunteer crews on the project. McFadyen estimates the total value of the renovation to be roughly around $500,000.
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Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Dave Crawford and Naomi McKay work together painting a bathroom as volunteers continue the extreme makeover at the Mustard Seed, 625 Queens Ave. The HeroWorks extreme makeover will keep the social service provider closed until June 3 when doors will re-open at 8 a.m. The big reveal celebration will be held June 2 at 4 p.m.