Time to get angry

By Dave Babbitt – Special to the Sydenham Current

This may very well be the easiest column I’ve ever composed because I’m angry.

And angry people rant.

In case you don’t know me, know my temperament, have read any of my Facebook posts, or watched any of my videos, I’m never an angry person. I pride myself on that.

But this week is different because now, I’m angry.

I will approach this from the standpoint that readers understand how important arts and culture are to every community. It’s what I write about every other week.

A rich arts scene can be a huge factor in attracting new citizens, and it is what keeps current citizens happy.

Both Dan White and I have written ad nauseum about the lack of a theatre in Wallaceburg.

Dan White is a proven actor, director, and producer in the world of theatre, but he has nowhere to even attempt to mount a production.

Wallaceburg has the talent, and I’ve been bugging him to produce a full-fledged musical for a few years now.

We have actors who have had to leave town to participate in theatrical productions, and now with our large pool of concert band musicians, we could put together an amazing pit band, but there is no theatre.

I lead a band of just shy of 60 members, another band of roughly 20 members, and lead the Brass Factory big band, but aside from WDSS we don’t have an indoor venue to play in. A gym is not a theatre.

But this not just about me and my personal projects, nor is it just about Dan. It’s a much bigger issue, and matters of principle are involved.

I received an advertisement in my Facebook feed this morning indicating local musical theatre phenom Mikayla Lozon will be Music Director of Annie Jr. for Theatre Sarnia in January.

If we had a theatre in Wallaceburg, just imagine the opportunities Mikayla could provide our own youth instead of lending her expertise to the kids in Sarnia!

Imagine having a community meeting place for concerts, movies, travelogues, dance programs and recitals, music recitals, guest speakers, and all of those community hospital meetings we’ve had through the years, and so on.

The lack of a theatre is stifling to both the arts scene and the general operation of our community.

We have no readily accessible meeting place or performance space.

For many, many years Wallaceburg has had a small, intimate theatre that sits above what is now the Wallaceburg Museum that has been praised by touring artists for its acoustic properties and coziness.

It has been known as Hydro Hall and more recently, the Jeanne Gordon Theatre, but it is no more.

It is simply “the Jeanne Gordon.”

It is no longer a theatre. Neither theatrical production nor music concerts can be presented there.

It doesn’t meet 2012 building codes.

At the most recent CK Council meeting, a motion was put forward that if accepted, would relegate the Jeanne Gordon to nothing more than storage space and a meeting room.

Fortunately, Councillor Aaron Hall managed to have the motion postponed for now.

But the wolves are at the door.

A “life study” of the facility provides an estimate of $2.8 million dollars are needed to bring the theatre up to all relevant building codes.

Let me first say that anything I attend, anywhere, should have my personal safety as its top priority, but I have a few problems with this report.

The first thing that bothers me is that nothing or any substance in the facility has changed since it was in heavy use by Wallaceburg Little Theatre and the Wallaceburg Arts Council.

It’s the rules that have changed.

In many instances, as rules or laws change, things can be “grandfathered.”

So, what are some of the upgrades the estimate will cover?

The first one I do not consider a safety issue, unless someone peeing on the floor is a safety issue.

The study calls for one million dollars in washroom upgrades!

We’ve had many full houses in our AC concerts with the same washroom facilities.

It’s certainly a comfort issue, but not a safety issue.

The recommendations also include $350,000 for fire separation of the two floors, $390,000 for a sprinkler system, $370,000 for mechanical upgrades, $320,000 for electrical upgrades, $100,000 for water service upgrades and $250,000 for project contingency and ancillary costs.

Many of us contributed to the multi-million-dollar Capitol Theatre.

Surely CK Council is tired of the “Chatham gets everything” whine heard everywhere outside of the city.

I say, help quiet the whine. Find the money and fix our theatre!

In my teaching days, I worked under many Administrators.

Some were great leaders, others not so much.

I was always of the opinion that anyone can administer a policy and procedure manual, but the great leaders found ways to administer “in spite of” the policy and procedure manual. They earned my admiration.

Why can’t those in charge of this problem find creative solutions?

For example, is this not a historic building and aren’t there grants available for historic buildings?

If it’s not a historic building, find a way to have it deemed so.

If CK has no discretionary funds, are there not Trillium funds to be had?

What about Provincial or Federal grants?

David Mann put his heart and soul into his historic research of Wallaceburg’s own world-famous Jeanne Gordon of the 1920’s, and “Hydro Hall” was renamed in her honour.

If readers have never been there, go look at the incredible job the Museum staff have done in honouring her in the entranceway.

That this theatre will never be able to be used for anything other than storage or a meeting around a table from here on in should concern everyone in Wallaceburg.

Find the money to fix this little gem!

We made a LOT of noise when our hospital was neglected and when our centre bridge was neglected and left to rot.

Citizens now need to contact relevant officials to let them know that we don’t want to lose another gem from our community.

Even if you are not a supporter of the arts, remember that your grandkids or great-grandkids might be.

Our Wallaceburg Arts Council has a potentially very exciting project to announce, but the lack of a theatre is a major stumbling block.

The Jeanne Gordon Theatre would be the ideal venue, but we are left to look at contingency plans, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, all of us involved in the arts request your voice on this matter, because it matters!

Get angry.

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