By Alexa Gilker

AN OLD church building on Argyle Street in Port Alberni has housed several faith communities over the last century, including Methodist and United; most recently, it was a Salvation Army church.

This summer, the property is being given a makeover as a music hall – one that owner Charlene Patterson hopes will rekindle the community spirit the old churches once fostered.

“A lot of people [in Comox] were married or baptized or went to Sunday school in the church building,” said Patterson.

“Those people who spent time in the church and enjoyed the community will hopefully come back and have a cup of coffee.”

Patterson recently retired from work as a computer analyst, and was looking for a new project. After searching across British Columbia, she finally landed on the empty property in Port Alberni. “It was near the ocean, on a main street – everything I wanted,” said Patterson.

The Salvation Army congregation that previously used the property had relocated in 2005, leaving behind a building with a lot of history.

“I’m ripping up carpets off of original hardwood floors from 1912,” said Patterson. Along with sourcing 1940s bowling alley booths from Nanaimo, she has plans to re-use the church’s original old pews with the help of a local antique refurbisher.

‘Local’ is a key word for Patterson; she is interested in specifically serving the already well-established community. The majority of the renovation’s trades workers are from Port Alberni, as well as the musicians she has plans to employ.

Patterson notes that despite Port Alberni’s natural, well-maintained beauty, many of its citizens are forced to commute into Victoria for jobs and cultural activities.

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“I want people to enjoy their home in Port Alberni by promoting the community here,” said Patterson.  

In addition to providing a venue for local musicians to play in, she also wants to create space for activities that aren’t currently available in Port Alberni, like ballroom dancing.

Patterson is already working with local musicians to put together a community plan that would allow as many performers as possible a spot to play, and she has had a great response from local dance instructors for creating a local dance scene.

Patterson herself isn’t a musician, though she grew up around a musical family who enjoyed singing in church.

Salvation Army Church officials were unavailable to comment on the new use of the property. Patterson noted, however, that she is receiving tremendous community support.

“I’m aiming for a venue that everyone can feel comfortable in,” said Patterson.

She includes the apartment of retirees living next door to her, who she hopes will enjoy the old library shelf of used books, and the relaxed vibe.

“I want to bring back as much of the good atmosphere of the church as I can,” said Patterson. “I know the church is the people; but even though they moved, the building still has this great community vibe.”

She has set a loose deadline for the opening of ‘Char’s Landing’ on New Years Eve, when she plans to ring in the new year with a celebration of her new life in Port Alberni.

“At that point, I hope everyone will be saying: ‘Let’s go to Char’s,’ and I won’t even have to leave my house.”

September 2010