Invermere’s Family Resource Centre is looking forward to securely funding their own future, after retiring Interior World owners Pat and Karl Conway generously donated their business to the not-for-profit centre.

“Pat and Karl have given a gift to the valley, and they’re leaving a legacy with that business,” said Pat Cope, executive director of the Family Resource Centre. “It’s a real win for the community and the agency.”

“We chart our own path,” she added. “Instead of waiting for the government to  give us more funding, suddenly we’re in front of the cart and were moving in the direction we want it to go. The organization really becomes community-owned, rather than being driven by what the government decides to support.

Karl Conway said the business as it’s running now is profitable, and expects that the Family Resource Centre will continue in its success.

“We think that it’s going to be great continuing on, and it’ll be local ownership. We wish them all the best,” he said.

After closing the business’ doors on Sunday, October 13th, he and his wife Pat will be enjoying themselves in the valley after running the business for twenty years. They previously ran another retail business, Threadz, in Invermere.

After Interior World reopens its doors on Sunday, December 1st, Mr. Cope said that there are, “all sorts of possibilities down the road once we have this well established and running

well for us.”