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Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e e 0 The original First United Church, built in 1880, which was demolished in 1965 to make room for construction of the larger sanctuary we know today. Chronicle Special There‘s one thing that people regularly travelling in the area of First United Church can‘t help but notice. Something is always going on in there. If it‘s not a girl guide meeting, it‘s a Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic, or fitness classes, or music classes; the list seems endless. And that, says Reverend Rayburn McColl, is probably the biggest reason why in 1983, as the church celebrates its 100th anniversary, First United is more vibrant than it has ever been, with the sixth largest worshipping congregation of Canadian United churches. "Every week is interesting in this place, it never seems to shut down. We try to have something here for everyone, to keep our people busy and challenged," said McColl. "We‘re part of the community and as a part we have a responsibility to make the facilities available. It would be a shame to let all that we have go to waste just so we can keep it clean," he continued. Local politicians and the congregation of First United Church gathered for a special Founders‘ Day ceremonies in September to honor those who founded the church 100 years ago. Shown here are, front left to right, Elder Hugh Maclkean, Eider Graham Hilliard, Waterloo MPP Herb Epp, Kitchener Mayor Dominic Cardillio, Regionall Chairman Jim Gray, and Elder Glenn Carroll. Rear left to right, Elder Gordon Coyne, Waterioo MP Waiter McLean, Reverend Rayburn McColl, Waterioo Mayor Marjorie Carroll. They surround plaques dedicated to mark the anniversary. Chromicte photo First United was founded in 1926 as a result of the union of the congregations from St. Paul‘s Presbyterian (established 1888) and St. James Methodist (1883) Churches. At the time of the union, First United had a congregation of approximatly 500 members, which since has grown to more than 700 families, or some 2,000 members. a Vibrancy a hallmark of historic First United The first church building to stand on the King and William Street site was built in 1890 by the congregation of St. James Methodist. Following the 1926 union, it was found that neither of the original church buildings were adequate to meet the needs of the new congregation and three years later, plans were already in the works for a new church. According to church records, because of the depression, plans for the new church had to be dropped and the congregation was forced to settle for the addition of a Sunday School building to existing structure. â€"Continued rapid growth in membership necesâ€" sitated further expansion in 1954, construction of the Hilliard Hall, but by the 1960s the congregaâ€" tion had grown to 1,800 and more space was needed, recalled McColl, who has been minister of First United for the past 23 years. _ In 1965, the original church building was demolished and construction of a new sanctuâ€" ary, built onto Hilliard Hall, was undertaken. Completed the following spring, the sanctuary of First United remains the largest of any United church in the Waterloo Presbytery. As might be expected from a church with such a dominant community orientation, the memâ€" bers of First United planned a full schedule of events to mark the centennial year. This summer‘s activities included a treeplantâ€" ing ceremony June 1, during which children released heliumâ€"filled balloons (responses were received from as far away as Kingston and Lindsay), McColl said. September 25, the congregation recognized First United‘s founders with a special church service, including addresses by Regional Chairâ€" man Jim Gray, Waterloo Mayor Marjorie Carrull. Kitchener Mayor Dominic Cardillo, Waterloo MPP Herb Epp and Waterloo MP Walter McLean. As part of the Founders Day celebration, First United‘s chapel was named the Chapel of St. James and the parlor, St. Paul‘s Parlor, in memory of the two original churches. Plaques were dedicated to mark the event. This weekend the congregation of First United will bring to a close its centennial festivities with a 100th Anniversary Celebration, highlightâ€" ed by a service by Dr. Robert McClure, former moderator of the United Church of Canada. McClure, the first layperson to be elected moderator of the Unilgd Church, has served as a missionaryâ€"surgeon in China as well as in refugee camps in the middleâ€"east, India, Borneo, Peru and Zaire. A Speciél music for the Sunday morning service will be provided by the First United Church massed choirs and a brass ensemble. Saturday at 8 p.m., First United‘s 50â€"50 Fellowship Club will host an informal evening with McClure at Hilliard Hall _| Tenants‘ Network central resource 1 for those who rent Pat Arbuckle Chronicle Staff Tenants‘ associations in Kitchenâ€" erâ€"Wateripo and surrounding areas have recently consolidated their efforts with the establishment of the Waterloo Region Tenants‘ Network to protect the rights of those who rent accommodation. The Network is described by Jennifer Herman, a member of the executive, as an ‘"umbrella group formed from appreximately nine tenants‘ associations already esâ€" tablished in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo, Cambridge, New Hamburg and surâ€" rounding areas.‘‘ There are four such associations in Waterloo and two others are currently being formed. Organizers hope that, by working together, they will be able to act as a resource both to individual tenants and associations, providing them with information about their rights and responsibilities as renters, as well as facilitating the establishâ€" ment of other tenant groups. "A lot of tenants‘ associations were being formed and they wonâ€" dered what to do. This (the network) will bring them together to share ideas and decide on a course of action," explained Lynda Brown, another member of the organizaâ€" tion‘s executive. The group‘s first organizational meeting was held in early Sepâ€" tember and already a step has been taken to achieve these objectives. A tenant information night, sponsored by the network, has been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. at Waterloo‘s Rink in the Park. Guest speaker, Leslie Robinson, a staff worker for the Federation of Metro Tenants‘ Associations is expected to provide suggestions for those interâ€" ested in organizing an association. The network also plans to sponsor other information nights dealing with such topics as rent review, evictions and repairs. While many of their dealings will be with these tenants‘ associations, brown said that she hopes members of the network will also be able to council thoseinvolved in landâ€" lord/tenant disputes. Uppermost in their minds, she expects, will be warning tenants to avoid creating an atmosphere of antagonism in Chronicle staff Representatives of the Waterioo Minor Soccer Club unveiled the next stage in their $1.9 million plan to develop a centralized soccer complex in the city at Monday‘s committee of council meeting. Club president Jim Ford asked the city to approve spending $135,000 for construction of a small building in Bechtel Park, which would house dressing rooms, needed space for equipâ€" ment and uniform storage and a general purpose room. An extenâ€" sion, including two indoor playing fields, is also planned for the future, he said. Ford told aldermen that the club has experienced an "exploâ€" sive"" growth in membership durâ€" ing the 12 years it has existed, putting pressure on existing facilâ€" ities. "At the present time we could use everything you can give us as far as facilities, but we recognize times are tough," said Ford. This year, more than 1,400 people are enrolled in the club‘s soccer program, which is run in conjunction with the city‘s comâ€" munity service department on 24 Soccer facility spending requested WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983 â€" PAGE 3 ‘"we hope to advise them on how to approach and deal with the landlord on an amicable basis so things don‘t get started on the wrong track,"" she explained. ‘‘Tenants must project the impression that they are trying to work with them (landlords), not against them, that they are working for the betterment of the building for everyone. They are not out to get the landlord." initial contacts with the landlord. Most local tenants‘ associations were formed to act as a lobby group and represent the rights of tenants during annual rent review. These hearings are held if the yearly rent increase on a building (built before 1976) exceeds six per cent and they require landlords to establish proof that the additional revenue is necesâ€" sary. All tenants are invited to attend the hearing but, in areas where tenant associations have ‘been formed, members elect a representative from the organizaâ€" tion to appear on their behalf. ‘"‘The tenants are protected, they have somebody acting for them. They don‘t have to take time off work or spend time studying the landlord/tenant act to prepare to go to rent review," said Brown, adding that the advantages of belonging to such an organization far outweigh the risk of reprisal by landlords. "All tenants‘ associations started over rent review but we are trying to get them to understand there are more things to tenants‘ associations than rent review," she said. The Richmond Court Tenants‘ Association in Waterloo, of which both Brown and Herman are memâ€" bers, has organized Block Parent and Neighborhood Watch programs, for example, as well as Hallowe‘en parades, Christmas parties and garage sales. > Although the Nov. 15 meeting will be focusing specifically on the formation of new associations, all tenants in the Waterloo Region are welcome, said Brown even landâ€" lords. Admission is $2 per person or $5 for each association. "You get to have a feeling of community. It makes it easier to work together because everyone is working towards a common goal â€" the betterment of the building," she added. private and public fields in the area. In the spring of ‘82, council unanimously approved a nineâ€" stage plan for construction of the soccer facility. When finished, the complex will include four junior soccer pitches, one fullâ€"size pitch, two practice fields, and the buildâ€" ing with offices, change rooms and two playing surfaces. While the majority of the fundâ€" ing will come from the city, an estimated $1 million, as well as Wintario and other sources, posâ€" sibly $700,000, the club hopes to raise $200,000 itself to contribute to the project. The group has set an intermediate goal of $20,000 seed money, needed to fund future largeâ€"scale fundâ€"raising endeavâ€" ors such as lotteries. WMSC fundâ€"raising efforts so far this year have had "moderate success" collecting $6,000, Ford said. On the recommendation of Ald. Richard Biggs, the request was referred to the city‘s finance committee for consideration when the 1984 budget is set. Since approval of the plan in 1982, the city has spent $40,000 to upgrade fields in the city. _