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Arts space breakdown and costs TBD 33 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Continued from page 31 "You've got everything from woodworking to gyms to recital halls to music recording, so we want to find a fit so that everybody is happy in their zone, but still feel they are part of the entire community centre," Fenech said. The approved plan features a sizable arts and culture component in excess of 54,000 sq. ft. of dedicated space for a variety of applied arts and music, including both rehearsal and performance space. Britta Martini-Miles, executive director of CommUnity Arts Space, said she is looking forward to seeing the creative exchange among the many arts groups, as well as the other community users. "The best part will clearly be that so many different groups, so many different people will get to share one large space, share their ideas, creativity, skills and resources," she said. "This centre could become exemplary in Ontario: creativity and courage on part of the mayor and council to try a new approach to a community centre, persistence and engagement on part of the groups to keep alive their vision of a shared space amidst setbacks and obstacles, a shared space for leisure pursuits, be they creative, recreational, artistic or social. All ages, all social strata. What an opportunity to re-define the notion of a `public space' and a chance to be creative about space." Members of the Oakville Arts Council are also enthusiastic about the start of construction, according to Erich Almasy, president. "So many people worked to make this happen; it represents a solid, communitywide mandate for support of the arts," he said. "The centre will spur innovation, inspiration and interaction. It will become a hub for the arts." "So many people worked to make this happen; it represents a solid, community-wide mandate for support of the arts." Erich Almasy Oakville Arts Council president Town staff is currently developing a plan on the logistics of running the centre. "There will be an operating model that we will be bringing back to council once we determine it," said Nina de Vaal, director of recreation and culture with the Town. "That would set the stage for who would access what space, what the criteria will be, and so on." Martini-Miles said some of the member groups with CommUnity Arts Space are leery about how the space will be allocated and what the cost will be. "There is lots of excitement, but also weariness," she said. "Many worry about affordability -- as the rental fees for the local groups have not yet been disclosed -- will it really be affordable for the groups to provide courses and programming for the public?" Another task the Town has before them is making final decisions about the parking lot this fall, according to de Vaal. There is still debate over the number of parking spaces required, currently set at 476, as well as the lights that will be installed to illuminate the parking lot. QE Park is now officially closed to the public. The warm pool facility that was at the centre is now open at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Swimmers will likely be happy to hear the aquatic area and change rooms will undergo some renovations. "The tank and the rooms won't change substantially, however the biggest change is to improve the air quality, but we aren't going to change the tank itself," Fenech said. "We are going to try to bring in a small, multi-use change room for those people who need assistance or for a mother and son, etc., and within the change rooms, we want to provide two barrier-free washrooms and barrier-free showers." For information about QE Park, visit www.oakville.ca. St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church is proud to present the Saturday September 26, 2009 11:00am - 5:00pm St. Joseph's Ukr. Catholic Church 262 Maple Grove Dr., Oakville For directions go to www.tserkva.ca Ukrainian dancers, "Barabolya" (children entertainers), Children's Village, Ukrainian food, Baczynskyj & Co., beer garden, vendors and much more. contact person: Oksana 905-465-3388 If something's wrong, we should write it. T ogether.