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Performing Arts Centre, Stuart Wood’s future can be linked if government gets creative

Posted on March 29, 2014 in Education // 1 Comment

Henry Grube Centre.

Henry Grube Centre.

SATURDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — When levels of government want to accomplish something, there’s usually a way to make it work.

One of the reasons detractors of the Henry Grube Centre as a future site for a performing arts centre say it’s not feasible is that it belongs to School District 73. Of course it does.

Mayor Peter Milobar pointed that out again this week when asked at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting about a location for the imagined performing arts centre. The school district owns Henry Grube, he said — the school district might not want to sell it.

That view fits with the bias toward putting a new performing arts centre downtown.

Coincidentally, the contract was awarded this week for renovations to the old John Tod elementary school that will transform it into the John Tod Community Centre.

John Tod elementary is owned by the school district. However, the school district and the City have a mutual interest in doing something else with it. So, the school district will lease the school to the City.

The City, in turn, will renovate the building and sub-lease it to the Community Y for its North Shore facility and to the Kamloops Boys and Girls Club.

You see? It all works out. Everybody wins.

So, of course, the Henry Grube Centre could be handed over to the City so the property could become the site for a performing arts centre.

And where would the Henry Grube Centre go? Well, the school board wants to shut down Stuart Wood elementary and move the students to the current site of the Beattie School of the Arts.

Which will leave the City-owned Stuart Wood building available for some other use. For example, a new location for the Henry Grube Centre. If Stuart Wood’s days as a school must end, wouldn’t a new location for the Henry Grube be a nice use for it?

City owns a building — school district continues to use it. School district owns a site — City uses it.

Things can, indeed, be worked out if government tries.

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About Mel Rothenburger (11607 Articles)
ArmchairMayor.ca is a forum about Kamloops and the world. It has more than one million views. Mel Rothenburger is the former Editor of The Daily News in Kamloops, B.C. (retiring in 2012), and past mayor of Kamloops (1999-2005). At ArmchairMayor.ca he is the publisher, editor, news editor, city editor, reporter, webmaster, and just about anything else you can think of. He is grateful for the contributions of several local columnists. This blog doesn't require a subscription but gratefully accepts donations to help defray costs.

1 Comment on Performing Arts Centre, Stuart Wood’s future can be linked if government gets creative

  1. Unknown's avatar Lyman Duff // March 29, 2014 at 7:39 AM // Reply

    Of course Stuart Wood Elementary can remain open if “governments” get creative. If there is a will there is a way.
    It only takes people with a little vision. Hence the problem. Vision is in short supply around here, especially amongst the local “decision makers”.

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