Public to have input on possible performing-arts centre
The public will have a chance next month to give input on a potential performing-arts centre.
Mayor Peter Milobar, in announcing a six-member committee charged with kickstarting any move to build a centre, said the session will be held at the Tournament Capital Centre on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Milobar said it is fitting to hold the session at the centre, which represents a similar initiative taken years ago to build facilities to promote the city’s sports and athletics side.
Joining Milobar on the committee are Thompson Rivers University president Alan Shaver, Norm Daley, Michael Fane, Alexander Watt and Fiona Chan.
The mayor said the five were chosen because of their track records in moving large projects forward.
However, he expressed caution on any potential timeline in creating a centre.
“I know they want to run,” he said of the committee members, “and I want us to walk before we run.
“But, having said that, there is a lot of excitement around the possibilities.”
He noted there is no money allocated or location identified for a centre, little data on the need for one, who might use it and what the revenue stream would need to be.
Milobar, acknowledging many people wanted to be on the committee, expects to see more people become involved as the project moves forward.
The committee has had a few meetings already, Milobar said, “and we want to get rolling on this.”
He announced the committee members at the sixth annual Mayor’s Gala for the Arts, a fundraiser for the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Western Canada Theatre and the Kamloops Art Gallery.
Milobar told the crowd at the Saturday, Jan. 19, event at the Kamloops Convention Centre the committee will also look at the current status of the arts and culture community in relation to the arts strategic plan developed in 2004.
• Two awards were presented at the weekend event.
Tenor Thomas Bijok was named emerging artist and New Gold received the business-support award.
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