LETTER – Society will seek action on new PAC after the October civic election

The following was emailed to Kamloops Centre for the Arts members on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022:

Last time we reached out to you, we asked you to take a look at the City’s Recreation Master Plan which was recently re-endorsed by City Council. This Plan was developed with significant community input and remains relevant as our City continues to grow along with the demand for recreational activities and associated venues.

Over the past year, we saw local theatre, symphony, dance, and other cultural activities return to live performances. Unfortunately, the limitations of the Sagebrush Theatre that existed before the pandemic still persist. Anyone who attended Western Canada Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz may have noticed the set pieces that were stored outside under white tents. That the basics of a production cannot be stored inside the Sagebrush Theatre, clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of our City’s current facilities and the critical need for new performing arts spaces.

With a municipal election on the horizon, we will continue to share the value of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts with all candidates and the newly elected Mayor and Council. We recognize in any election–including this one–there are a variety of important issues and priorities that must be considered.  Although a referendum about the Centre for the Arts will not be on the ballot this election, please know that once the new Mayor and Council are in place, the KCA Society will seek action on the Recreation Master Plan and its identified priority for a performing arts centre.

We are pleased to be joined by the Kamloops Sports Council in our shared pursuit to activate the Recreation Master Plan. The Sports Council is fully behind the priorities as outlined in the Recreation Master Plan and agrees that the need for a new performing arts centre is the first and foremost priority. The KCA Society and Kamloops Sports Council both believe that our community cannot afford to wait any longer before a new arts centre is realized.

We encourage you to get out and vote in the upcoming municipal election (October 15), with the KCA in mind, and join us in continuing to support the growth of arts and culture infrastructure that will benefit our community and region for decades to come.

Please reach out with any questions or comments.

Warmest regards,

Brenda Aynsley
Interim Chair
Kamloops Centre for the Arts