KAMLOOPS — Elections BC has released financial details for the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ sides in last year’s Kamloops Performing Arts Centre referendum.
Advertising sponsors are required to disclose their costs as well as their donor lists.
The ‘Yes’ committee, led by realtor Brendan Shaw, spent just under $14,000, and was supported by several community groups, including a $5,000 donation from Tourism Kamloops.
The Kamloops Art Gallery and Kamloops Symphony both contributed $1,000, as did accounting firm KPMG.
The Central Business Improvement Association chipped in $2,500.
The group ‘Performing Arts Centre Not Yet,’ which was led by former Kamloops Councillor Nelly Dever, spent $10,382 for its victory.
It received contributions from several private businesspeople, including $2,500 from Kamloops Red Apple Holdings, $1,500 from lawyer Mary MacGregor, $1,000 from Canadian Tire owner-operator Jack Juusola, and $500 from Domtar.
The referendum asking tax payers if the city should borrow tens of millions of dollars to build an arts centre downtown was ultimately unsuccessful.
