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‘Friends of the Alliston Memorial Arena Centre’ ask for councils commitment

August 31, 2013   ·   0 Comments

Ron Fischer, representing the ‘Friends of the Alliston Memorial Arena Centre’ or FAMAC, asked council for its commitment to the future of the building Monday night.

Fischer thanked council for the improvements that have already been started at the Memorial Arena, with the help from a federal grant, and requested that a new “must do” list be started.

“Where do we go from here?” Fischer asked council.

Under the grant requirements, the building must remain open for at least six years after renovations are completed. The $250,000 investment from the feds, matched by the Town of New Tecumseth, is a lot of money to spend if the future of the building isn’t certain – as to Fischer’s point.

“User groups, the Town and residents have stepped up, but there’s more that can be done,” said Fischer. “We need to form a community group similar to the model that is used at the Banting Homestead.”

Specifically, Fischer asked for two things:

1. Targeted donations: allow people to invest in the projects that they want to see completed and allow their funds to go to that project exclusively. The Town would then offer tax receipts for all donations, and;

2. List of Projects: Create a ‘Top 20’ list of the projects that could be completed that would make the Memorial Arena conducive to more events.

“We need council’s buy-in to the concept. Funds raised for specific projects would be used for specific things. We need the Town to confidently say, ‘You’ll get a tax receipt’ if you do so,” Fischer concluded.

Councillor Jim Stone said, “I think this is a good idea. It’s like Tom Sawyers fence – it looks so good that everybody wanted to help him paint it. We can do the same thing here.”

Councillor JJ Paul Whiteside agreed. “My assumption is that the building will be there for more than 10 years. We need to bring this (fundraising) to a head. If we drag it on too long (investors) will begin to disappear.”

Council has referred the matter to staff. A report on councils role with the Memorial Arena is expected at a future Committee of the Whole meeting, where the public can offer input.

By Wendy Soloduik

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