The South Weyburn community will gather once again for the longest consecutive running Christmas concert in western Canada at the South Weyburn Co-operative Centre on Friday, Dec. 21.

The spirit of the one-room school house will be evident once more at the Christmas concert, as children perform for a packed house, and then the moment comes and bells jingle, with the arrival of Santa Claus.

Santa has a gift and treat bags for each child, while the other guests enjoy something sweet as well.

The South Weyburn board are appreciative of all those who help sustain this heritage site, whether it is through donations, year-round rental of the facility for meetings or parties, or the volunteer hours spent cooking, cleaning, planning, mowing and checking.

The original building for South Weyburn School was built in 1902, and was replaced in 1913 with the brick one-room school with a full basement which still exists today.

In 1957 the school was closed. Community members purchased the school and grounds, and the South Weyburn Co-operative Community Centre was formed. Memberships are sold to those in the community, with an elected executive board overseeing the operations.

Regular maintenance of the building and grounds is through members volunteering their time and equipment when necessary. One of the goals is to increase the rental of the community centre so that the income covers the operating costs. At present, the board relies on donations and fundraisers to meet that challenge.

The Community Centre continues to have annual spring picnics, Halloween parties and the traditional annual Christmas concert, with 2007 boasting the 105th year, the longest consecutive running Christmas concert in western Canada. Other community events include wedding showers for the bride or groom of the community, ball games, wiener roasts, steak fries, pig roasts and social events.

Through fundraising, donations and many, many hours of volunteer labour in the last few years, the back wall of the building was replaced, city water was installed, the interior was painted, hardwood floors refinished, the furnace and hot water tank were replaced, the shingles replaced, new signage installed and a covered picnic shelter was built to enhance the outdoor area.

This year, the push has been to get funds to build a wheelchair ramp, purchase screening for the outdoor shelter, build a showcase to display South Weyburn history, buy more picnic tables and replace flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. We hope to achieve these projects in time for the 50th anniversary of the school becoming a community centre. The festivities will be on July 5, 2008.

The members are proud of the heritage of the little, old, red brick school. They hope the Community Centre will continue to serve as a gathering place to keep the community spirit of friendship, fellowship and unity for years to come for both young and old.