Let's play the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down' game for all the new possible developments in the town of Athabasca. Thumbs up to Brad Gilbert, the new manager of the multiplex.
Let's play the ‘thumbs up/thumbs down' game for all the new possible developments in the town of Athabasca.
Thumbs up to Brad Gilbert, the new manager of the multiplex. Brad is the most energetic, hard-working, positive and common-sense person I have met in a long while. I work almost every day in the multiplex and see him and have talked to him numerous times about the possible future of recreation, and the multiplex in this town. He looks for ways to solve problems rather than simply throw obstacles in the way of any new idea or possible new developments that are sorely needed in this town.
Thumbs up to Mark Francis. I have known Mark for many years and if anyone has more creativity, enthusiasm and determination to always do the right thing in regard to the future of education or recreation in Athabasca, I haven't met them.
Mark and Brad both don't plan for the present, but are constantly looking years down the road to prepare for that.
It is almost laughable that so many people in this town can be so narrow-minded and short-sighted that they think spending money on the future of Athabasca should only be done if we waste many more thousands of dollars (maybe millions) to get some more experts to tell us what we already know: we need a new school, a new pool and fitness centre, and a new library.
The road up this area is safe and there are really no reasonable reasons not to proceed with all these projects.
Many thumbs down to the multiplex board and our mayor. To quote a very old and simplistic phrase, “If you build it, they will come. ” Because I can guarantee you, no one is going to come if we don't build and prepare for the future.
With all due respect to our mayor, when potential doctors, teachers and other people are considering Athabasca as a future home, it's not the dental facilities they want to see first, but the recreational facilities and what other activities this town has to do.
As a very long-time resident of this community, I feel I cannot stand by any longer and should at least try to point out the obvious: stop living in the past and let's get on with making Athabasca a place that people really want to live in, instead of just another small, dying town in the long history of this province.
With great enthusiasm,
Bud Ottosen
