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Pg- 4 - Wmdoo Chronicle, WM, Ronni-r 2, 1917 Waterloo and area arts buffs who drive to Hamilton, Stratford or Toronto for their theatre or nugséc. Till be happy to know such entertainment will soon be avail- able In Kitchener. Centre in the Square is a plan for the area's new centre for community and arts activities. The idea for the $9.2 mil- lion project was broached 15 years ago and $1 million of that is still required. . The Centre will be located in Mackenzie King Square Which is being developed as a 12-acre civic centre in Kitchener, for use by all Region of Waterloo residents: [ It will consist of two parts: A main hall will act as a theatre, a music Mil, an auditorium and a concert hall. Complete with 2,000 seats, it will be designed from the basement up for multi-purpose use, with a deep, broad stage, resonant acoustics and excellent sightlines. Its equipment will permit all types of performances, in- cluding recording sessions. - mwolher pa-rt will be a spacious, well-lighted and fully-equipped art gallery to replace the present one, situated in an old church, on Benton Street in Kitchener. The Centre will be not only for""'artsy" people, but for everyone. It will be a focal point for community activity, a place where dtowdsfe join to_wa§cli, listen and enjoy. it will appeal lo childrim and adults, alike, as well as people of every, taste a_pd intere_sl,_orgapizers say. As an example of the influence which such a centre can haVe on its community, here's what lan H. Dobbin, manager of vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, says is happening at his auditorium: The Kitchener-Waterloo and District Labor Council this week is sponsoring a media campaign to rally opposition to the proposed $9.2 million Kitchener arts centre. a 'ees Cent t2 Radio commercials and newspaper advertisements began Monday and will run all week as the council initiated its $5.000 campaign to stop construction of the Centre in the Square project. - ‘Four'dai'ly one-minute radio spots on CHYM and CKKW plus newspaper ads in the K-W Record will explain different facets of the council's opposition to the project. - Saturday's newspaper-ad will inclu'dé a ballot to give Kit- chener residents an opportunity to voice their opposition or support. iie media blitz will consume 35-40 per cent of the $5,000 fund. No plans have yet been made for the rest of the money, though it may be used to organize public meetings. The labor council initially supported the project when it also included a convention centre. However, the convention facility was dropped due to rising costs and will be built as a latter stage. But labor is convinced a convention centre is needed to generate revenue to ease the operating expenses burden on local taxpayers. Detail; a the campaign were revealed last Friday by labor council president Orville Thacker who rejected a sug- gestion that it reflected a negative community attitude. U The council is only attempting to give Kitchener residents an opportunity to express their feelings, Mr. Thacker ex- plained - . Irhere- are travel films, ballet, operas. symphonies, Labor is angry that Kitdtptter city council since 1973 has in the. 301mm -.. un-v -e?"'s' By Jim MacDonald By Pearl Wolfe A community activity point? or a burden to taxpayers ? recitals, plays, club meetings, chamber music concerts. public meetings, political conventions, world heavy- weight boxing championship on closed-circuit TV, inkli- cal conventions, Sunday school rally, cooking school, band concerts, public legal forums, nurses' graduations, evangelistic crusades, Vancouver International Festival, country music shows, productions of the Messiah, Christ- Our auditorium is a place to develop understanding; through congregation and communication." That is the kind of centre organizers of the Centre in the Square are looking for. Some of the activities that can be expected at the Centre are:- shows staged by the K-W Musical Pro- ductions and the K-W Gilbert and Sullivan Society; sym- phonic and pops concerts by the K-W Symphony: choral concerts by groups such as the. Merino Singer's, the Kill Philharmonic Choir and the annual Kiwanis Music Festi- GaViiox Concerts, Gusieates, annual meetings of the B.C. lions, a Salvation Army production, a Shrine meet- ing,annuarfotr festiyalantisot . - . . Local political, labor and religious meetings and rallies; folk arts festivals. films, prominent lectures, ah- nual school concerts, large meetings of all kinds,. college convocations; vat. . Shows by professional touring groups - or individual, big name stars - ranging from rock to pop, country and western to Broadway musicals. . Music, drama and ballet by Canadian groupsorhose touring is subsidized by government in order to give Canadian talent wider exposure (the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Canadian Brass, the National Arts Centre StevetPublickover. a Conestoga College joumalism stu- dent who heads the media campaign, noted the ballots will be specifically directed to Kitchener Mayor Morley Rosen- berg so there won't be any question of manipulation. rejected four motions to hold a public referendum on the issue. Residents "have not been properly consulted," read a press release. _ _ - - . The $2.35 million would be matched by a Wintario grant. Another $2 million would be contributed by the federal gov- ernment with the city of Kitchener paying $2.5 million. _ The public will donate $2.35 milliori towards the project which Kitchener Ald. Bob Wagner says would indicate gen- eral public approval. _ _ - \ H... W...“ "Wm“... However, the council notes $1.5 million would come from the corporate sector with another $500,000 from "selected names". The remaining $350,000 is expected to be raised f rom employee groups, foundation§ and the general public. "The irerieentilge coming from the general population is hardly an indication of general public support." says the labor council. ll returned ballots reflect large public opposition, Mr. Thacker said the labor council would bring it to city coun- cil's attention since the arts centre barely received city approval. ll the balloting shows public approval, Mr. Thacker indi- cated the labor council would review its position though he feels it would be difficult to rally labor support. The centre's estimated $181,000 annual deficit is also vul- nerable to inflationary increases, fears the council which noted neither the federal or provincial government have offered to contribute toward operating costs. , / ' Orchestra.) Of the total $9.2 million cost of the project. the fed- eral government Has committed 8t million to the schefne ($1.8 million .toward the Woman hall and $200,000 toward the new art gallery.) The provincial government has indicated it is pre- pared to match with Wintario funds whatever the local community can raise (which could be up to $2.35 million or more). N Businesses and individuals pledged $1.4 million in a public campaign tour years ago. A A The City of Kitchener has set aside $2.5 million and this is still available, plus their contribution of the land (which has been estimated worth $1 million.) There will be no further claim on Kitchener's capital funds. Every dollar raised in the community through public subscription campaign will be matched by money from federal, Winterio and municipal funds.,Every dollar don- ated becomes four dollars. every thousand becomes four thousand dollars. , Contributions will be recognized and are tax deduct- ible. Ati,dortatioets, regardless of size, will be recorded in an Honor Roll Book which will be on permanent display attheCentre. \ _ . l Donors of $300 or more will be recognized as seat Sponsors. Those donating $1,000 or more will have their names inscribed on plaques which will make up a "patrons' wall." ‘ _ ' Also, many attractive units will become available as memorial units if families or organizations wish to make a lasting gift to the people of Waterloo Region. Donors of410,00For more will have their names th- scribed on a "founders' wall". in the main lobby. _ 0ther_objections include : - The building of the arts centre will affect future develop- ment in the city's core. - Insufficient parking is provided. - More traffic will be attracted into the already congested Queen-Frederick Street area. _ $1 millibn of the city's $2.5 million commitment was supposedly earmarked for a new city hall fund. , 'ne centre would duplicate services currently offered by the two Waterloo universities, the Kitchener public library and the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The council is also concerned over the secretive attitude of the Centre's organizers. Les Rudrum, a United Auto Work- ers representative on the council, challenged organizers to publish a list of all donors. There are also serious questions about the esthetical value of the Centre. Mr. Publickover suggested as an alternative converting the Lyric Theatre on King Street which could be cheaply expanded to accommodate 1,300 people. - The Centre would compete with the Auditorium, thus increasing its annual deficit. "The city would in effect be robbing Peter to pay Paul. " _ __. Mr. Thacher denied the labor council was split on the issue though he admitted some smaller unions. such as the musi- cians association, support the Centre _ Mr'. i’ubiickover fears the city is going to build a memor- ial, not a centre, for the performing arts. . . He also challenged them to project the Centre's costs such as the total insurance premiums. - _ 7 But representative-as. revealed that union locals represent- ing 5,500 workers haveendorsed resolutions supporting the labor council's stance.