Okotoks town council elected not to make a commitment to a new performing arts centre and it was the right decision.
There are bigger priorities facing the Town right now and the funds could be better spent elsewhere.
The best option for the performing arts centre is to partner with Foothills School Division when it proceeds with renovations to Foothills Composite High School. It will allow the Town to share the cost with Alberta Education.
The school division is not yet ready to move ahead so the Town can look at other needs.
Okotoks town council must look at the serious problem of ice time in this community.
Okotoks Minor Hockey Association announced this month it will not be accepting any new registrations this season except in Timbits.
There has been a serious lack of ice in this community for several years and it has caught up with Okotoks.
There are substantial ramifications as families looking to move to Okotoks will likely look elsewhere if their children cannot play Canada’s winter sport. These families will look at High River, Airdrie or other communities instead.
The new Heritage Heights Arena is expected to open in 2013 but it will be full the moment it opens.
It may not be something council wants to hear, but another ice surface should be a top priority.
A twin arena as part of the new fieldhouse project is something council should discuss with its partner the MD of Foothills. High River also needs ice and a twin arena might bring them back to the table to be a part of an expanded multi-sport facility.
