The Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society board of directors turned down the idea of having free drop-in programming hours on Family Day during their Jan. 15 meeting.
The board instead voted unanimously on a motion by director and Town of Athabasca Coun. John Traynor to offer a 50 per cent discount on drop-in programming at the Multiplex on Family Day, Feb. 19.
The idea for free programming hours was brought forward by Multiplex general manager Dustin Pysyk. He said the Multiplex offered free facility access on Family Day for several hours during its first six years of existence but moved away from that over the past four years.
The Multiplex has run a 50 per cent discount during Family Day during the past two years, he added.
“We have our new equipment. My idea would be set up our equipment (and say) come look at what the Multiplex has,” Pysyk said. “To once again just promote our facility.”
However, Athabasca County manager Ryan Maier said the board needed to consider the cost of having free hours as it seeks to reduce the Multiplex’s annual operating deficit.
“I sit here meeting after meeting, year after year and hear the board gripe about our annual operating deficit and how bad it is,” Maier said. “We’re going to not only have the facility open but we’re going have it for free. I’m not really getting sometimes where are we going with our board here. We seem to contradict ourselves a lot.”
Director and Athabasca County Coun. Larry Armfelt said his goal is to balance deficit reduction with quality service at the Multiplex.
“My goal, year-to-year, as long as I’m here, is to reduce the deficit on this building and still give the best service possible,” Armfelt said.
However, Traynor said having free hours on Family Day was worth the investment.
“It’s a great idea,” Traynor said. “It is Family Day. That’s what it’s all about. That’s why we have these places, in my view. I think it’s money well spent and a nice thing for us to do as a community.”
Board chair and Town of Athabasca Coun. Michael Arychuk said without an exact figure as to how much the idea would cost, he could not support it.
“We just tasked you with looking for ways to find efficiencies and then, ‘Hey, we’re going to have a free day but we don’t really know how much it costs,’” Arychuk said. “I love the idea, I do, but I think right now it’s not the right time.”
