The Harnam Legacy Project 2026 – Equipment Shed renewal to Harnam House
The Harnam Legacy Project was initiated in the summer of 2025 when Harnam Grewal and his wife Sherree asked to meet with some members of the Executive Committee. Harnam said that he and Sherree wanted to do something special for the Club. They had agreed that they would like to present the Club with a donation to The Legacy Fund of $25,000. They wished the funds to be put towards something that would be of assistance to the Club and its members not to operational costs. Various ideas were discussed and after exploring the feasibility of the options, it was decided that a renewal of the aged equipment shed was the best option to provide benefits to the Club and members in a significant way.
Steps in the Legacy Fund Project
-After planning and budgeting were completed, the project moved with inventories of the shed contents being completed followed by one of the Club bowls.
-The renewal began tearing with out all of the old shelving, running new electrical lines and installing new energy efficient LED lighting in the ceiling once all of the rafters were undercoated and painted with two finish coats of gloss white paint. -Next was the installation and painting of plywood walls to provide solid nailing surface wherever needed. The preparation of custom shelving for the bowls and miscellaneous equipment followed. With efficiencies gained in the equipment/bowls layout the renewed space will be able to house the croquet equipment. -Work then moved on to install new robust planking on the exterior walls. A metal roof, a new roof extension over the entry and fascia boards and gutters were then installed. Six new exterior LED lights activated by a photocell were added.
-New doors were custom built on site and installed with secure hardware. The interior concrete floor was repaired and painted before a non-slip vinyl floor was laid. New rake racks were created to achieve space saving storage. The ground sheets were installed on a double pulley system to raise them off the ground when not needed which will allow for more space below. -A size tag was affixed to each of the sixty plus bowls holders and repaired as needed to alleviate slackness that had allowed bowls to easily roll out when shelving them. Moving to a 12- inch depth shelf for the bowls facilitated easier identification of favored bowls by members.
-The contents of the equipment shed were reassembled April 3rd, 2026. A transformation was achieved; it moved our old gloomy “shed” to a bright organized “house” which will fittingly bears the name of Harnam who contributed more than most members know to the Club development, operation and community spirit at OBLBC. The project was carefully thought out to achieve the best results to honour Harnam’s volunteerism and service at the Club as well as the generosity of Harnam and Sherree’s significant donation to the Legacy Fund.
The Executive discussed with Harnam what he would like done with any funds that might be left from the equipment shed renewal expenses. He gave his support to two other areas where he saw a need at the Club. The good news is that funds are available from the $25,000 donation. The Club will be able to purchase two new short mats before the Fall and the opening of the next indoor season. In addition, Harnam and Sherree’s donation will be able to address a need that was mentioned in the Club history Harnam compiled which dated back to 2004. That ‘need’ reported was for the installation of some protection from the sun along the north side benches. The remaining funds from the Legacy donation will support the installation of pivoting rectangular umbrellas over to north side benches of both greens in the coming months.
Thank you Harnam and Sherree; these improvements will be enjoyed by Club members for years to come.
The list of volunteers on Harnam’s legacy project included:
Doug Francis, Lauren Charlton, Lorne Cowley, Ed Walker, Jan Price, Brent Merchant, Arne Langston, John Dolman, Judy Black, Mary Magill, Michael Perry, Ray Dilba, Brent Jansen, and Susan Buss.
In addition, a group of men’s short mat players braved torrential rains one January morning to move plywood into the shed and Hardie plank to the grounds.
-Submitted by Lauren Charlton
