We are not alone

While this blog is specifically related to the Darling White Lake Centre, it is not the only group that operates within our small community.

The earliest established local organization is the White Lake Property Owners Association. Dating back to the original Snye Road Owners in the late 1950’s the WLPOA has evolved and continues to advocate for the residents of the area. They were also instrumental in getting DWLC off the ground, assisting with early days fundraising and working with the Township to advance the project. No longer directly involved with the Centre the WLPOA continues to be one of our strongest supporters.

After the closure of the Snye Road fire hall, a local group saw the potential value in using the now-vacant building as a sports venue, specifically for a pickleball court.  After a lot of work by volunteers the White Lake Sports Centre came into being in 2023 and pickleball became the local sport of choice for residents who wished to maintain an active lifestyle without having to travel to Arnprior or Ottawa. Badminton is also available if desired.

Most recently, a 3rd group was established, the Highlands North Network. This organization acts as a resource hub supporting the Lanark Highlands community centres located north of Lanark Village. This support includes coordinated access to funding sources, including provincial and county grants, information sharing between centres, and the creation and promotion of events and activities that benefit the community as a whole.

We are certainly well-served by the volunteers who run these groups and who, collectively, make the Darling White Lake area a true community. Please give them your support.

I have been somewhat remiss in maintaining this blog since the last post in August. Rest assured, the doors have not been closed; in fact there’s been lots of activity at the Centre since then.

The Labor Day weekend saw a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Centre opening its doors for the first time in 2014. Hosted in conjunction with the White Lake Property Owners, approximately 40 people came out for a delicious feed of fresh corn and BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs.

September also saw the annual fall clean-up at the Centre. Outdoors, the property was cleared of dead trees, and inside, a dedicated crew brought the building back to its normal spic-and-span condition.

In October, the Centre hosted the Ottawa Heart Institute for a Valvular Heart Screening clinic. 37 individuals from the community took advantage of this free, potentially life-saving, clinic, part of the Ottawa Heart Institutes outreach program. (For a recent Ottawa Citizen story, click here. (https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-heart-institute-is-going-mobile-to-catch-heart-disease)

Yoga, Knitter-knatter, and Darts have all started up again for the winter. These are among the most popular activities (along with year-round Coffee Hub) that local residents host at the Centre for their friends and neighbours in the community.

You might also have noted that the banner for this blog (just below the photo) now includes a link to an aerial video shot of the Centre and surrounding environment. This video is part of a series undertaken by Highlands North Network to document all the centres within its purview.

So, in closing, a heartfelt thank you goes out to all those volunteers who keep the Centre operating as a valued social hub for the community; it’s a great place to spend a few winter-weary hours with your neighbours, participating in various recreational activities.

And if you have any suggestions for other activities that would be of interest, please reach out to us at darlingwhitelakecentre@gmail.com and we will be pleased to help you get up and running.