Behind the Scenes at Harmony Centre: Meet the Maintenance Crew
It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to keep the Harmony Centre, a lively 150-year-old repurposed church in downtown Owen Sound, going. Meet some of the people behind its success.
by Lorraine Campbell for Harmony Centre; reprinted with permission
Harmony Centre is a lively, historic building that’s worn many hats over the years. Now at a venerable 150 years old, it needs regular TLC to keep it in good shape.
Working behind the scenes—or sometimes behind a haze of demolition dust—Frank Greaves and his crew have gathered every week for the past 13 years since Harmony Centre became what it is today.
With cheerful energy, they tackle the day’s to-do list, covering everything from general maintenance and repairs, demolition, painting, yard work, renovations, and, naturally, those necessary dump runs that follow a day of hard work. Their efforts keep Harmony Centre welcoming and functional.
The maintenance jobs are as varied as the building itself—sometimes a task is wrapped up in a single day, while others stretch out over weeks.
Turning a large office into two smaller spaces might take a week or three but removing the pews from the auditorium and swapping them for movable stacking chairs was a two-year undertaking. Recently, new heat pumps needed snow protection, bathrooms were updated, rooms repainted… and the crew was ready for action every step of the way!
When I asked Frank about their biggest project, he recalled the early days of Harmony Centre, when the pipe organ was removed. A local technician helped dismantle the instrument, and instead of scrapping it, salvaged parts were used to repair and restore the organ at Georgian Shores United Church.
Meanwhile, ranks of pipes found new life in Chesley, helping to refurbish another pipe organ there.
Frank originally hand-picked his crew from a circle of friends—Ralph Suke, Randy Wright, Larry Mervyn, Gary Santucci, and others. The group continues to grow, thanks to word-of-mouth and open calls for volunteers at Harmony Centre.
The maintenance crew supports not just the building, but each other, enjoying camaraderie, laughter, and a sense of belonging. They wrap up their working day with a shared lunch, rounding off their efforts with good company.
If you’d like to join the crew—regularly or just for a drop-in—reach out to Harmony Centre for more information. Expertise isn’t required, only enthusiasm! The crew meets Tuesday mornings.
Email: info@harmonycentre.ca
Phone: (519)-376-8880
Profiles is a series of articles written by Harmony Centre Board member Lorraine Campbell and volunteer Tammy Allen, spotlighting the people and community groups who bring this remarkable place to life.
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