Westbank Lions Community Hall rises from the ashes

KELOWNA–It was an act of vengeance.

When Kerry Robert Cooper poured gasoline on the Westbank Lions Hall and set it ablaze, it was only to ruin the wedding of his former lover’s friend.

The fire caused over a million dollars in damage, displaced fifty community organizations that used the space, and resulted in Cooper being sentenced to three and a half years in jail.

READ MORE: Lions Hall arsonist sentenced; ordered to pay restitution

Now, almost a year and a half later, the community hall has been rebuilt and West Kelowna residents are ready to celebrate a new chapter in their collective history.

“Days after the fire, members of the community were asking where they can make donations, how they can help,” says Jack Lucas, Chair of Fundraising for the Westbank Lions Club.

Insurance covered the damage, but funds were raised to make improvements to the hall – including covering it with fire resistant siding – while still maintaining the historical frame and character.