When the world went into a recession, the town of Morinville benefitted by building a cultural centre. This past weekend the celebratory goodwill toasts spread far and wide throughout the town.
At the invitation-only Saturday night gala, the Morinville Community Cultural Centre officially opened and signalled its artistic march into the 21st century to the drumbeats of the Kipohtakaw Singers and the Kita No Taiko Japanese Drummers.
On Sunday, the entire town was invited to festivities that spotlighted local groups such as Dance Connection, the Morinville Minstrels, Caviar Players and a mixed round of roving artists.
At the Saturday night gala, the town’s leaders celebrated with provincial and civic politicians, the military, chiefs from Alexander First Nation, service club representatives and local citizens.
Designed by Manasc Isaac Architects, the 26,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose facility was planned with sustainability in mind. It incorporates a main hall, stage, mezzanine and gallery, a large industrial kitchen, five high-tech meeting rooms and an elevator.
Coming in at a cost of just under $12 million, Mayor Lloyd Bertschi described it as a gathering place, a hub, and a focal point for the community to build a new future.
Master of Ceremonies Edie Doepker added the building is the ideal venue to exhibit the town’s culture, heritage and arts. “It directs our passion and we can make sure it plays a prominent role in the town’s destiny.
Retired senior Francis Fryters, a Morinville resident since the mid-1980s, commented, “It’s a very successful building. They constructed it well. The theatre is wonderful and it’s excellent for weddings and other events.”
Allan Menduk, a newly arrived vice principal at Morinville Community High School added, “It’s a wonderful facility. It gives Morinville the opportunity to showcase the arts in terms of performance and in terms of an art gallery. For a similar size community, this is phenomenal. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The building plans started in 2005 as a master plan that was ratified. A year later a committee was struck to research similar facilities across the province.
Fryters remembered that the community’s initial reaction to a cultural facility was that it was “too expensive. But I think now everybody is in agreement now that it’s good thing.”
As local politicians were searching for creative ways to build, the world plunged into a recession and the town of 7,000 was about to benefit. In 2009, the federal government introduced the Building Canada Infrastructure Fund for ready-to-go projects that would stimulate the economy. The Building Canada Infrastructure Fund contributed $6 million to construction of the centre.
“You have a plan. You were ready to go and you have a committed community. Bravo,” added MLA Ken Kowalski.
In addition to the drummers honouring the town’s success, Alexander elder Tony Arcand performed a traditional smudge ceremony, reciting a prayer in Cree.
Ed Bulger, a descendant of two founding families and performer for 40 years, sang Community Heritage Pride, an original country ballad he penned as an ode to the town.
Kent Sangster’s jazz quartet, including St. Albert’s Chandelle Rimmer, improvised a few charts and the Pro Coro Male Choir, accompanied by master pianist Jeremy Spurgeon, created a more classical ambiance.
Leah Mrochuk, 7, played the inaugural tune on a $50,000 seven-foot Hailing grand piano donated by the Morinville Rotary Club.
Manasc Isaac also donated a painting that will become part of the facility’s permanent visual arts collection.
