“What Mayor Stern is proposing is a good idea, an exceptionally good idea.
“But to turn his council chambers into a performing arts centre is ludicrous.”
Those words last week from Wilf Long, spokesman for Slave Lake’s college expansion committee. His reaction came after reading a Leader story in which Mayor Ray Stern suggested the group can save millions of dollars if it chooses to house its proposed theatre in a new council chambers. The council meeting place is proposed to be part of a municipal/ provincial government complex that the province is pushing Town fathers to consider building.
But a suggestion that the expansion group could move in and have its own amphitheatre in the new council chambers made Long see red.
“We don’t want an amphitheatre, we want a theatre,” he said. And it’s a far cry from what Stern envisions as an acceptable performing arts facility.
“Mayor Stern is looking at this as a businessman – and he should. But what we’re proposing is not an amphitheatre. When the mayor spoke with our group he talked about sliding council chairs under a stage. But in a theatre, there are many things under that stage, like equipment, a pit, sound and lighting connections.” In short, in a proper theatre there’d be no room for councillors’ chairs under the stage.
Long says his group has set its sights on something much more inclusive than a theatre. It wants the expansion to become a ‘meeting place’ with a maximum 350 seating capacity that’s filled and busy at least 250 days each year. And looking at other small communities whose theatres and performing arts facilities are success stories, his group is convinced it’s doable, if not necessary.
“We’re looking at having our theatre open and running at least 250 days each year,” Long told The Leader. “with everything from Little Janie’s dance recital, to Ian Tyson, to Cats (the musical), to Scouts meetings and even hockey awards nights. And not just for Slave Lake, but also for Widewater, Kinuso and Smith.
“Let’s face it, right now ‘culture’ in Slave Lake is Trooper at (Billy’s Outlaw Inn) once every three months, extreme fighting and Papa Joe on the radio Friday mornings.”
The Town is already considering moving its municipal library into a similar facility at Northern Lakes College, he said, so is clearly recognizing the college as a meeting place of sorts. And supporting the expansion at the college would be a win-win situation for the entire community. “What the Town is proposing for its new offices and how they’re getting it is great. But it should not be considered a meeting place – it’s an office building.
“What we’re proposing is a community centre where people can go and enjoy an evening out without traveling to Edmonton.”
And besides, adds Long, “there’s an amazing amount of talent in this town and area. People like (Roland Michener Secondary band teacher) Ellen Criss do an amazing job. And they should have a place to showcase it.”
Long says the proposed provincial/municipal building –and the fact that the Town has shied away from offering any financial commitment to the expansion might make funders reconsider their role.
“I can’t say it won’t affect us, but that’s still no reason to quit. What (Stern) is proposing is something that looks good on paper – and as council chambers.
"But not as a performing arts centre."

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