Image Credit: Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society

By James Peters

Performing Arts Centre

Society says City of Kamloops price tag for new performing arts centre would not exceed $45 million

Oct 22, 2019 | 9:14 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society has presented the price tag and business case for a new performing arts centre (PAC) to Kamloops council. Now it’s hoping for a quick endorsement so it can move to next steps.

At council’s Tuesday (Oct. 22) meeting, society Chair Norm Daley presented the summary of work done to date.

The facility, planned for property bounded by Seymour Street, Fourth Avenue and St. Paul Street, carries a $70 million price tag.

Daley told council the society hopes to raise at least $22 million to build the centre, but will try to exceed that total. If it only meets the minimum, the City of Kamloops would be on the hook for the remaining $45 million.

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Benefactors Ron and Rae Fawcett have already committed $3 million, as well as a building already on site.

Image Credit: Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society

“We look to secure these funds through fundraising and a contribution from the city. This is very typical of similar projects of this scope,” said Daley.

The proposed PAC would be City of Kamloops-owned.

Council sent the issue to staff for analysis of the business case. Staff will bring a recommendation back to council for its Nov. 5 meeting, conceivably giving the society enough time to meet a Nov. 12 federal grant application deadline.

“We know this project is right now,” said Daley. “We have momentum.”

Councillor Arjun Singh tried to temper the enthusiasm for quick advancement of the project, saying the city would need to carefully weigh how to frame another referendum question asking the public for permission to borrow up to $45 million.

In 2015, Kamloops residents voted 54 per cent against borrowing up to $49 million to help build a PAC with a $90 million price tag.

Daley told Singh he believes the society can sway opponents of the 2015 proposal who were worried about the timing of the expenditure.

“It wasn’t ‘No;’ their big thing was, ‘Not now.’ We’re saying, ‘We think the time right now is the time.’ We believe that there is a basis of support out there.”

Councillor Bill Sarai told Daley a new PAC fits in well with the city’s Tournament Capital identity.

“We’re starting to realize we are the Tournament Capital of Canada, but performing arts is part of recreation,” said Sarai. “There was talk years ago that Sandman Centre would stay empty, you couldn’t fill the seats. Now it’s almost too small on Blazer days. TCC was never going to be used. Now it’s overused.”

“I think back to my family members who were involved in sporting activities — they have the greatest sporting facilities in Western Canada,” said Daley. “I think to my family members who are involved in arts activities — we can give them the greatest venue in Western Canada.”