CCV sorting data, keeping moving

I had a brief meeting with Gerry Offet this afternoon. He told me they received some great feedback from the meeting in terms of what kind of people should be on the Task Force, and other comments.

While staff is busy with budget issues next week, they are in the process of sorting out all of the "Friends of the Performing Arts Centre" from the signup sheets, and consolidating a list of those who've identified themselves as willing to serve on the "Task Force." Mr. Offet says they will be working the lists in the next few weeks to quickly get things in place.

For those who were unable to attend Thursday night's meeting, signups and comments are still welcome. Kathy Lachman has forwared me the agenda, signup sheets and backgrounders and I've placed them in the "Initial Public Meeting Resources" section of the sidebar (or you can simply click the appropriate links above.)

For those wanting to sign up as a "Friend" or identify themselves as a candidate for the "Task Force," you have a few options: You can download the pdf and bring it in to Initiatives Prince George (in the Via Rail building on 1st Avenue) or fax it to 649-3200. Alternatively, you can send your information to Kathy Lachman via e-mail.

Also, CCV would like to know the following:

What are the skill sets you see as being important for membership on the Task Force?

Your ideas here are particularly valueable, and can be sent to Kathy Lachman using the contact info above.

Gerry Offet talks with James Evans on CBC

This morning Gerry Offet was interviewed by James Evans of Daybreak North on CBC:

When I came here three years ago I was really impressed with the variety and quality of the local performing arts. It astounded me when I learned that the venues were scattered all over the city, that one group is using a converted warehouse, another group a converted firehall, and many groups are using an auditorium in a high school.

Most communities in North America of our size and with our cultural diversity do make an investment in a performing arts centre.

Here's the entire interview (5:44):


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Offet makes reference to an investment marketing study that was done last year. That report, entitled "Downtown Prince George Marketing Implementation Plan," can be found here.

Invitation to download, print, e-mail, share

For those who want to help spread the word, here's and invitation you can download and print, or e-mail to your contact list.

It's the one I've been using as I go all around downtown to encourage more people to attend the meeting — I think it's important that those who own businesses or work downtown also attend to support more positive development downtown.

The pdf can be downloaded by clicking here.

PGTV covers Downtown Performing Arts Centre meeting

PGTV has also previewed the special meeting to discuss the development of a Perforing Arts Centre.

From the CKPG website:

The development arm of Initiatives Prince Goerge is acting on results of a study done last year on downtown revitalization. A performing arts centre was identified as a project that could help boost the citys core. The issue is now going to the public to gauge both need and support.

To download the video from the CKPG website, click here.

Performing Arts Centre takes centre stage: Opinon250

Opinion250 is the first to report on the open community meeting regarding a new performing arts centre for Prince George:

City Centre Ventures, the downtown development arm of Initiatives Prince George, is hosting a public meeting next week, "open to anyone interested in the development of a multi-use Performing Arts Centre."

"We are confident that there’s a solid business case to build a multi-use performing arts centre in Prince George," says Initiatives Prince George President, Gerry Offet, "But what we need to know is exactly what the potential users would be looking for."

Full story and great discussion thread here.

City Centre Ventures invites residents to development meeting

Verbatim from the press release:

City Centre Ventures invites you to attend a special meeting to discuss the development of a performing arts centre for Prince George. Representatives from the Prince George Arts and Cultural community are invited to come together to share ideas about the development of a multi-use performing arts centre in Prince George.

Discussion points will include:
• What would user groups require from a performing arts centre
• What steps need to be taken to build the business case for the performing arts centre
• What kind of organizational structure can be developed to move this forward

The meeting takes place Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 pm in the Ramada Hotel Downtown Prince George.

For more information, please contact:

Gerry Offet
President, Initiatives Prince George
564-0282

Kathy Lachman
Manager, City Centre Ventures
649-3204