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OAKVILLE BEAVER Saturday, April 18, 2009 · 2 Oakville Arts Council presents... QEP community centre passes another hurdle By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Do you have your acceptance speech ready? You could win $500 Attention all performers, writers, photographers, filmmakers, visual artists & historians: Help shine a spotlight on Oakville's Artists on Thursday, June 11 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Send us your resume, sample material and a brief description of your work! Application deadline is May 1st! Drop off your application package at 120 Navy Street, 2nd floor of the Oakville Public Library! www.oakvillearts.com ARTS COUNCIL OAKVILLE Cheers and applause erupted from a crowd of about 60 people, gathered inside Town council chambers Wednesday night, as the Committee of the Whole voted to go with Option 3 for the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre. This option calls for the maintaining and renovation of the entire existing community centre, which is located at 2301 Yolanda Dr. The approved plan features a sizable arts and culture component in excess of 54,000 square feet of dedicated space for a variety of applied arts and music, including both rehearsal and performance space. The capital cost of going with this option sits at around $23.3 million for the 144,000 square foot building, which was one reason the plan was seen as preferable by many. Option 1 would have cost $33.5 million to renovate and maintain usable portions of the community centre, demolishing the rest while Option 2 would have cost $32.3 million to completely tear down the existing community centre and build a new state-of-the-art version from scratch. For those who came before council, however, the sizable arts space provided by Option 3 was the major selling point. "The way I look at this is we have a lightning strikes once opportunity. We can have basically a full-sized community centre and an arts centre all under one roof," said William Smith, cofounder of the Oakville Camera Club. "Two facilities for the price of one. We're talking like two Oakville Y's in floor space and not only does Bronte get the benefits of this, but so does all windows An Evening Without Borders: Multicultural Fair Presented by: T.A Blakelock's World Council Where? T. A Blakelock High School, 1160 Rebecca St, Oakville (large gym) When? Friday May 1st, 6:30- 8:30 pm How much? Tickets will be sold for $7.00 at the door. Come join us for an evening of diversity the amily will enjoy! tasty world cuisine, watch live ances and enjoy an ethnic fashion show. Superior quality, superior workmanship We install window the right way, because replacement windows should never have to be replaced. Proceeds to Stephen Lewis Aids foundation HOME OF THE TIGERS 905.847.7480 windows doors roll shutters Call today for your estimate of Oakville. I don't live in Ward 1, I live in Ward 3, which is on the other side of town and if the arts centre comes into being as Option 3 has envisioned, I will be spending a fair chunk of time there." Smith noted the Oakville Camera Club, which is made up of about 85 members, is looking for a place to meet as well as a place to store its equipment. Currently, the club uses the basements of some of its members to store its materials and plays fast and loose with various locations when doing studio work. An emotional Megan Whittington of the Oakville Arts Council also voiced her support for Option 3 noting there are too few places for the arts in Oakville. "In this community, we provide a swimming pool because we know how important swimming is, but where are the dark rooms? Where are the pianos so kids can come and play, as well as swim?" said Whittington, choking back tears. "Arts are vital. Sports are vital. We need both and we need a community centre that has arts focus." Not everyone was completely happy with option 3. Doug Alton, of the Bronte Tennis Club, called on the Town to add four more tennis courts to the site to help accommodate the club's growing membership. Pam Damoff objected to the site noting the Town was moving too fast to approve it. Questions still lingered about the size of the parking lot and what arts groups would actually operate in the community centre once it was finished, she said. Britta Martini-Miles, executive director of CommUnity Arts Space, countered Damoff noting the process has been ongoing since 2004. She said the arts groups have made no firm commitments to using the community centre because they have yet to be told what the rent will be. With all opinions heard, Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson introduced a motion to approve option 3. The motion passed with many councillors noting the option was a good one because as a multi-use community centre there would be something there for everyone. This issue will come before council on Monday for final approval. If approved staff will immediately begin design work for the facility and estimates the community centre could be in place by September 2011.