Board Chair Norm Daley speaks to supporters at Wednesday's rally (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

KAMLOOPS CENTRE FOR THE ARTS

Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society kickstarts ‘Vote Yes’ campaign ahead of April referendum

Mar 4, 2020 | 3:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society members rallied in downtown Kamloops today, marking day one of the group’s ‘Vote Yes’ campaign.

Society Vice Chair Brenda Aynsley says between door-knocking, setting up information booths are public events, and a pep rally with BrewLoops later this month — they’re giving the referendum campaign all they’ve got.

“We are starting four weeks of active campaigning. we’re going to be phoning all of our members and encouraging them to get out early and vote. Because we know that will really give us a kickstand for the successful referendum.”

On April 4, electors in Kamloops will decide if they are in favour of the City borrowing up to $45 million to build the Kamloops Centre for the Arts.

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It has been noted by both City staff and the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society’s business plan that the debt would replace the retiring debt from the money borrowed for the Tournament Capital Centre.

“You know, there’s a lot of things that go around in the community about what this means for taxation,” says Western Canada Theatre Artistic Director James MacDonald. “Well it means very little for taxation in our city. In fact, most people will not notice the difference at all in their taxes.”

Several faces from the arts community joined the crowd at Wednesday’s rally. MacDonald says a new facility can’t come soon enough, considering the difficulties user groups have when trying to find a time to book the existing Sagebrush Theatre.

Supporters gathered downtown at the Vote Yes rally (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

“Really, it’ll open up the Sagebrush Theatre more for the School Board use as well. So any time anybody has been seeing a dance recital or their kids performances in school gyms or classrooms, it opens up a big facility for them at the Sagebrush as well.”

Several organizations have penned letters of support, including the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the Thompson Nicola Regional District, and Kamloops Makerspace.

“We do a lot with different arts groups so it’s exciting,” says Nicholas Adams, Makerspace co-founder. “We’ve seen this really personal growth in people through art. And anything that can allow that, and foster that in our community I think is fantastic.”

The referendum is now a month away, and the Society says it has collected more than 5,000 individual memberships in support of the project.

Aynsley notes that anyone looking for more information, or wanting to volunteer, has a number of ways to get in touch with them.

“Tune in on social media — Facebook and Instagram. It’s KCA or KamloopsCentreforthe Arts.ca, and you can also email us at info@kamloopscentreforthearts.ca.”

(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)