ELECTION ISSUES: Arts and Recreation

“What we need is a recreation, convention, culture and performing arts centre and we need it on a big (parking) platform, much like Penticton. We need to go big. When this performing arts centre was first designed, I think, we were 15,000 people short, now we have 15,000 people more,” said Hamer-Jackson.

Hamer-Jackson said his proposal would be closer to $400-million.

Sadie Hunter served as a spokesperson for the centre ahead of the canceled 2020 vote. While she fully supports the idea, she wants to see the non-profits it will benefit start to bounce back.

“I do think we will need to be careful moving forward to ensure that some of the non-profits and some of the organizations who will be using the space will be stabilized and recovered enough from the pandemic the last couple of years, economically, for it to be feasible for them to use the space,” said Hunter.

It all comes down to the dollars for Ray Dhaliwal. The candidate is only in favour of the plan if it won’t affect tax-payers in Kamloops.

“Performing arts centre, if the grants are available and the organizing committees can come up with some money for it, absolutely let’s do it. But, put the burden on the taxpayers at this time, I can’t do that as a business owner,” said Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal also outlined his plan to see more neighbourhood outdoor pools in the city if he’s elected.

Arjun Singh also hopes to move forward but hopes his expertise can help make the overall project more cost effective.

“When we have a budget meeting it not so much people asking us to cut stuff, they are asking us to add stuff. It’s a balancing act there that we really need to tread carefully on. Things like the arts centre, we are spending money on an arts centre, which I support us doing, go back to a referendum I would support it in a referendum. I think we need to look at how the operating costs for that are as low as possible,” said Singh.

Arjun said he believes the arts centre could be back in front of council in spring 2023.

Dieter Dudy has gone a step further than is opponents, he is promising to have the centre built during his time in office.

“We need more sheets of ice, we need the performing arts centre, I envision a gathering place that would be a public market. I would see, as I mentioned earlier, a cultural centre. Any number of those amenities that make life that much better in Kamloops,” said Dudy.

General election day will see polls open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 15) at 16 locations throughout the city.

by Michael Reeve / Chad Klassen

ELECTION ISSUES: Arts and Recreation

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