Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Update: City asks school board for extension

From Page A3 of the Herald (14 March, 2007):

"The City of Penticton has asked for an extension for the March 31st deadline hovering over the fate of the Pen-Hi auditorium. Mayor Jake Kimberley and city staff met with Okanagan Skaha school board chair Larry Little, School District 67 staff and performing arts community representatives in closed-door sessions at City Hall on Tuesday.

[...] Kimberley said preliminary estimates for adding a separate heating and air conditioning system for the auditorium, along with washrooms and other improvements could total about $1.5 million. The city is also looking into whether the adjacent north gym could also be saved and operated as a community facility. The mayor suggested additional costs for taking over the gym could be minimal."

Betty Clark, president of the Penticton branch of the Okanagan Symphony Society was also quoted in the story:

"Clark suggested by saving the auditorium, even on a temporary basis, it would allow more time to properly plan for a new performing arts centre in Penticton. 'We can't put all our eggs in to sports venues,' she said. [...] Clark said the symphony has been unable to book most of its performances in the 730-seat Pen-Hi auditorium due to its use by school drama classes." (see also Marylin Cleland Barnay's comments on this issue).