Forming a new society responsible for the upkeep of the Athabasca Performing Arts Centre (APAC) may be a solution to the state of disrepair the centre’s buildings have fallen into in recent years, according to some Athabasca County councillors.
The subject of APAC buildings upkeep was brought up during discussions of the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society mandate in a joint meeting between Athabasca County and Town of Athabasca councils Jan. 10.
Athabasca County Coun. Warren Griffin said trying to get a handle on the scope of the Multiplex is a “real serious question” as to whether or not the APAC should be under the Multiplex mandate in the first place.
“Unfortunately, in some ways it’s ignored because of larger maintenance issues with the other two facilities, the old pool and the Multiplex,” he said. Griffin added perhaps the arts centre should have its own governance.
The APAC includes the Nancy Appleby Theatre, Alice B. Donahue Library and Old Brick School. The Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society (ARMS) is responsible for maintenance of the buildings.
In September, an inspection of the arts centre buildings initiated by ARMS came out with 27 recommendations, 22 of which are listed as “immediate” priorities.
Athabasca County Coun. Dennis Willcott said he thinks the APAC buildings should be “separated from the pool,” because the maintenance staff will be fully occupied once the new pool opens.
“I still think that should be taken care of some other way. I know it’s the town and the county, but I think it should be separated from the pool, because them guys up there right now at the pool are going to be so busy,” he said.
Town of Athabasca Coun. Ida Edwards said she is a big fan of theatre, and she essentially lives at the Nancy Appleby Theatre a couple months of the year.
“It is neglected. It is the forgotten middle child of the pool and Multiplex syndrome that we have here in town,” she said.
Edwards continued, saying the 280-seat theatre is something people in Edmonton “would give their eye teeth for.”
She added they need to go back to the Multiplex’s original objectives when they formed a society, drawing councillor’s attention to one objective in ARMS’ application to become a society, which was attached to the meeting agenda. It states the Multiplex would “procure the delivery of lectures on social, education, political, economic and other subjects, and to give and arrange musical and dramatic entertainments.”
“Try and use the template that was created in the first place, which is our objectives, then follow through with that,” Edwards said. “Then give the society that created it the strength to do it.”
Athabasca County Coun. Larry Armfelt asked town council members which way they were leaning on the issue, and Town of Athabasca Mayor Colleen Powell said she would not make a decision that very night.
“I don’t think we’re leaning either way right now. I think we’re still thinking,” she said. “We need a few weeks to think this one through. I’m not willing to make a decision on this tonight.”
Town of Athabasca Coun. Rob Balay said councils should also wait to see what comes out of a usage study into the Old Brick School, scheduled to begin this month.
