She’s old, tired, broken and, quite frankly, she reeks.
That old barn has seen its day and we voted, as a community, that we agreed.
Now we have two years left before the referendum on the proposed Multi-Centre is null and void.
This is no longer an election issue. The people have already spoken.
It’s time, well past time to get serious.
Which is why the decision to allocate $105,000 from the North Cariboo Parks and Recreation Capital Reserve Fund was a good one.
The funds will be split two ways: $45,000 for marketing and $60,000 for a full-time fundraising coordinator.
Multi-Centre Fundraising Committee chair Eric Wickham said organizing the kind of events needed to ensure the success of the much-needed facility is a full-time job, requiring 100 per cent time commitment.
And he’s right.
The goal is to raise $20 million in two years. That’s five million more than needed. But the committee is hoping to lessen the burden on taxpayers.
That’s one hell of a goal and one the entire community needs to be on board with.
Whether you use the arena, have used the arena, plan to use the arena, or have never stepped into the arena: This is important.
Whether you’ve attended an arts performance, have attended an arts performance, plan to attend an arts performance, or will never step foot into a performing arts space: This is important.
This is our community, one in which many of us have spent the majority of our lives in.
We raise our children here, pay taxes here, work here, play here. This is our town, our people, our home.
We need this facility, not just for a place to celebrate our athletes and arts, but to gather and to grow.
It’s an investment for the future.
–Autumn MacDonald, Observer