Rotary Zone 6 Publication

SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK -- If its walls could speak, they would tell you about the night Queen Elizabeth II spent there. Or about the four Canadian Prime Ministers who were guests.

The Admiral Beatty Hotel -- a 200-room hotel in the heart of Saint John, New Brunswick -- was once the showpiece of hospitality in this Canadian province. But after 57 years of service, its doors closed in 1982 and it has sat in neglect an eyesore to the community. Its future was to be found in a parking lot.

However, thanks to the Rotary Club of Saint John, the Admiral Beatty is being reborn at a cost of more than $5 million. And while it won't serve as a home-away-from-home for royalty or first ministers, it will become a permanent home for many of Saint John's senior citizens.

Known as the Rotary Admiral Beatty complex, the "Beatty", as it is affectionately referred to, is being transformed to accommodate 112 housing units, several of which will be specially-equipped for the handicapped. An opening date of March 1986 is anticipated.

Overlooking historic King Square - a six-acre park -- the Beatty's central location provides residents with easy access to all major services and attractions, including two major shopping malls.

J. C. Robert Lockhart, president of the Saint John Rotary Club, predicts the Beatty's proximity to services and entertainment will make the facility one of the more popular locations in the city.

"We believe the Beatty will provide residents with a quality of life that is not available anywhere else in the community," he said. "Right next door, the old Capital Theatre is being brought back to its original grandeur, promising to make it one of the finest centers for the performing arts in Canada.

The plan to restore the old Beatty came close to being shelved this past winter due to a lack of funding. While government money was secure -- the project could not get off the ground without private funding.

Enter the Rotary Club of Saint John. Sitting down with representatives of the federal government and the City of Saint John, the club was able to hammer out an agreement that rescued the project. The club's financial commitment was at $350,000.

The club itself has contributed $50,000 towards the campaign objective while Rotarians and local and national businesses are being asked to kick in the difference. More than one-half of the goal has already been met.

As Rotarians, we have a world-wide objective of encouraging and fostering the ideal of service whether it's our personal, business and community life," says Lockhart. "I believe our involvement in the Admiral Beatty senior citizens project demonstrates our commitment of serving the community."