By Kirk Starratt
NovaNewsNow.com
Family members of the namesake of the new Louis Millett Community Complex say he would be proud to have it bear his name.
New Minas celebrated the grand opening of its new 26,000-square-foot recreation and administrative centre Nov. 15 with guided tours, activities, musical entertainment, refreshments and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Niece Jennifer Levy said her uncle loved learning and he wanted kids to learn. He always invested in children, her included, and the community centre is very fitting to his memory in this respect.
Levy has many fond memories of her uncle. He loved fiddle music and she finds it an amazing coincidence the first major event held in the complex was a performance by the Kings Fiddlers.
“He would have been tickled to death,” she said.
Levy said Millett loved animals and raised milking cows, pigs and beef cattle at different times.
“He was very proud of being the last farmer in New Minas,” she said. “He loved nature and working in the woods. He knew every inch of his property and was proud of it.”
Following the grand opening, Levy said the family is very impressed with the new facility and very proud to have Louis’s name attached.
“The building is as big as his personality was,” she said. “We love and miss him, but are so pleased with this legacy left behind in his honour.”
The Millett family was pleasantly surprised when Les Millett of Canaan, Louis’s brother, was asked to cut the ribbon. Les’s wife, Carol, cut the cake.
Millett said Louis wanted to see something developed in New Minas to help keep kids off the streets and out of trouble. In this regard, Louis would be pleased with the centre. The project cost approximately $4.2 million, with approximately $1.75 million coming from the Louis Millett Trust.
Millett owned all the land from Granite Drive to the Ken Wo Golf and Country Club, aside from a handful of properties along Commercial Street and a four-acre strip in the middle owned by brother Les. The money for the trust came from the sale of some of the property.
