The proposed Culture and Events Centre details are now in the spotlight

The Ad Hoc Building Steering Committee finalized their detailed designs for the proposed Culture and Events Centre last month and kicked off February with their first of several presentations. On February 2, Whitecourt Town Council held a special meeting to hear the presentation and ask questions of the group. The committee features members from both Councils (Town of Whitecourt and Woodlands County), the public, the Performing Arts Society, the Library Board, and the Town Administration.

“This all began back in 2008 when the Province came to Whitecourt with the ACE (Active Creative Engaged) Initiative. These were mediated sessions with community members to develop active, creative, engaged initiatives that were goals for Whitecourt. Through this process, an Arts, Culture and Events Centre was identified as the number one priority. An Arts and Culture Committee was created, consultants engaged with all community groups and reviewed all town facilities, and a needs assessment was completed for the library. In 2015, a community survey was completed. We recorded that 84 percent of respondents favoured an Arts and Culture Centre within our community and 75 percent of those also indicated that they would support this with a tax increase for the facility,” explained Committee Chair Norm Hodgson.

He added that after the extensive public consultation, tours of different facilities in the province, and one in Saskatchewan, took place to help the committee better understand how these facilities operate and learn the positives and negatives of running one. Over the years, various steps have been taken to learn more, including business studies, operational models, talk with design experts for theatres and libraries, a concept design, and a detailed design. Though the plan initially involved a connection with a new school, it changed from that concept into a three-piece facility to include a new Library, a 600-seat theatre in an Arts, Culture & Convention Centre, and a new Town Administration Office.

Hodgson explained that in 2018, the Town of Whitecourt applied for a federal grant from Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP). In 2020, the town received word that their application was successful. Totalling 15.6 million, the ICIP grant can only be used for the Library and the Arts, Culture and Convention Centre portions of the facility, not the Administration building portion. “This grant is only for those particular facilities, and this is a timeline grant and will expire before the end of 2022 if we don’t do anything,” he said. The grant cannot be used for other projects in town, such as a new hospital, which is a Provincial decision. The group then walked through the design elements, viewable on the project’s website (www.cultureandeventscentre.ca).

The project’s estimated cost is $59.5 million. Seventy percent ($41.7 million) is for the Arts, Culture and Convention Centre, 19 percent ($11.2 million) for the Administration Building, and eleven percent ($6.6 million) for the Library. The Town of Whitecourt has secured 54 percent ($32 million) of the cost in grants. Eleven percent ($6.3 million) will come from reserves. The funding plan shows unsecured funding, including $7.1 million for partnerships, $2.6 million for sponsorships, and $1.4 million for sales of assets (current library and town office buildings). There is also a debenture listed for 17 percent of the cost ($10.1 million), which would be a borrowed portion, similar to a mortgage.

The taxation impact of that debenture breaks down to approximately $7.72 per month for the average home (valued at $326,400), $20.85 per month for the average small business (valued at $499,560), and $50.51 per month for the average industrial business (valued at roughly $1.2 million). It states on the site that these taxation impact numbers are for the operating and capital costs at the current design stage.

The facility is proposed for the area between the Fire Department parking lot and Rotary Park. If residents remember the two homes previously located at the entrance to Rotary Park, behind a tall wooden fence, that is the area where this project is pegged to go. There are maps and detailed designs available on the site (www.cultureandeventscentre.ca).

Hodgson said the return on investment for residents in the area is endless. He pointed to the attraction and retention of staff as one area that a facility like this would help with. “We all know that when we try and bring doctors to the community, it’s not just the doctor, it’s their families, and unless there are facilities, amenities and services available that the families want to participate in, they aren’t going to choose our community.” He said the same goes for other skilled workers while adding that it could encourage new industries to lay foundations locally, helping to grow the area. He said the facility could house things like conferences, dance festivals, and concerts and that it would provide greater opportunities for learning and enjoyment for residents and visitors alike.

Public consultations and dialogue with the community have been happening since the process started and remain an essential project component. Throughout this month, there are several events planned so that residents can learn more, ask questions, get answers, and give their thoughts ahead of Council deciding the project’s fate.

On Tuesday, February 8, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm, an info table will be set up at IGA Whitecourt and another at the Wolverines game on the following night (Wednesday, February 9). There will also be two open houses. On Wednesday, February 16, there will be a public Zoom event from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm that residents can attend. On Thursday, February 17, from 7:00-8:30 pm, there will be a public open house at St. Joseph Parish Hall. Residents can also send any questions to admin@cultureandeventscentre.ca or reach out to a member of Council.