Editor:
Thank you to both Mayor Peter Milobar and Dale Bass for their columns last week with much-needed information about the proposed performing-arts centre.
Yes, it is time to get talking about it.
Having retired here recently from big cities, I am amazed and delighted with so many groups and individuals — choirs, bands, orchestras, artists, dance and theatre groups — that infuse this city with a great variety of entertainment and many young people learning these skills.
But, we are also missing out on entertainment we cannot accommodate.
There is no $90-million sitting in a pot that could be spent on something else.
The money needed for this project will be raised only through grants and probably more donors. With Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, there is likely to be special grants available.
What we are being asked to agree to is borrowing up to $48 million, which is like a mortgage.
The time is now.
As a volunteer usher at many events at Sagebrush Theatre — which is really a modified high school auditorium and in which union contracts prevent selling the upper house for many events — I can clearly see Kamloops is ready to have a proper performing-arts centre with good seating, access and technical facilities.
It will make possible more performances for everyone, from rock bands, individuals, artists, our Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and others too numerous to list.
It is not for the elite any more than our wonderful sports facilities.
It will, as donors the Fawcetts said, “balance” our public resources.
It is now time to have a building on flat land with parking and proper facilities and near hotels and restaurants, as requested at the public forum.
For us taxpayers, it is only going to cost less than four packs of cigarettes or a half-tank of gas for each of two years.
We can do that.
Colleen Stainton
Kamloops
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