NC Multicentre Public Mtg on Sept 3rd

Joint Release of the Cariboo Regional District/City of Quesnel:

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and City of Quesnel will provide North Cariboo residents with a North Cariboo Multi-Centre project update during a public meeting in Quesnel City Hall Council Chambers on Tuesday Sept. 3. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Members of the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (the CRD’s four northern directors and Quesnel City Council) will be in attendance. Although a deadline of May 31 had been established for the fundraising initiatives, the JPC has reviewed the timeline for the various steps required to borrow the money needed for the project to proceed and has determined that an extension until at least Sept. 3 is possible to allow the fundraising effort to continue throughout the summer. The loan authorization bylaw approved in the referendum will expire Dec. 12, 2013.

"The JPC, staff and the Multi-Centre fundraising committee have worked extremely hard to secure funding for this project over the past few years," stated CRD Vice-Chair, Ted Armstrong. “We have re-assessed our timelines related to the project and feel comfortable with extending our deadlines; we need to continue the momentum to fundraise and raise the profile of this project locally, provincially and nationally in an attempt to secure a funding commitment from senior levels of government."

“My colleagues and I continue to lobby senior levels of government and ensure their representatives are aware of the project and this community’s great eagerness to proceed,” added Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “I want to ensure our residents know we are working on this file and are committed to carrying out the mandate provided during the referendum. I’m excited that we have found some more time to continue our fundraising efforts. We have determined that the community’s vision for the Multi-Centre can still be accomplished with our original $30 million budget and we are committed to making that vision a reality.”

At the Joint Planning Committee meeting on June 25, the members released a resolution reaffirming that the Multi-Centre project requires a $30 million budget to proceed. The Committee did not support any reductions to the scope of work of the project. The project budget includes a 1,600-seat arena, 450-seat performing arts theatre and accompanying event and assembly space.

The Cariboo Regional District and City of Quesnel still need to secure approximately $5.5 million in funding after North Cariboo taxpayers approved borrowing up to $15 million in the 2008 referendum.