Memorial Arts Centre Survey

Consultation has concluded

Purpose

The City of Wetaskiwin is looking for your thoughts on the Memorial Arts Centre (5206 – 50 Street). Through this engagement, we are hoping to receive feedback that will help council decide the future of the Memorial Arts Centre—whether the facility should be retained by the City of Wetaskiwin, or if the City should list and sell it.

Background

Built in 1947, the Memorial Arts Centre is a large venue located in central Wetaskiwin suitable for weddings, parties, receptions, City-run programs, and other gatherings. The Centre is frequently used as a backup facility by City-run youth programs during the summer when the Manluk Centre is fully booked and is often a designated polling station during federal, provincial, and municipal elections.

With a seating capacity of 325, the upper hall includes an open-concept floor plan equipped with a bar, a full commercial kitchen, an adjoining patio, and a stage with a built-in sound system. The lower hall is smaller, comprising of two connected spaces similarly equipped with a full kitchen and bar, and can be used for weddings, receptions, etc.

It should be noted that other local facilities exist within Wetaskiwin with similar capacities that offer comparable services, including the City-owned Knights of Columbus Park Centre at By-the-Lake Park and locally-owned businesses/organizations such as Best Western Wayside Inn, Wetaskiwin Agricultural Society, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1559, and Wetaskiwin Royal Canadian Legion Branch 86.

Wetaskiwin parks, facilities, and recreation departments share the operating responsibilities for the Memorial Arts Centre. Parks is responsible for site maintenance such as snow removal and grass mowing. Facilities is in charge of event set-up and walk-throughs, while Recreation takes care of the bookings.

In 2022, the Memorial Arts Centre was booked 34 times as of December 1, 2022. Booking statistics also include City of Wetaskiwin rentals of the Memorial Arts Centre, for which a booking fee is not applicable.

Survey

Through priority-based budgeting, the Memorial Arts Centre was identified by the City as a building that could be utilized differently by the community. The Memorial Arts Centre, as a City-owned facility, directly competes with a number of facilities that serve the same or similar purposes owned by other local groups, such as Best Western Wayside Inn, Wetaskiwin Agricultural Society, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1559, and Wetaskiwin Royal Canadian Legion Branch 86.

Tell us what you think the City should do with the Memorial Arts Centre by filling out our survey by January 8, 2023. A survey report will be made available on this page once it has been presented to Wetaskiwin City Council during their February 27, 2023 council meeting at 9 a.m.

All survey responses included in the report to City Council will be anonymized.

Survey closes: January 8, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Purpose

The City of Wetaskiwin is looking for your thoughts on the Memorial Arts Centre (5206 – 50 Street). Through this engagement, we are hoping to receive feedback that will help council decide the future of the Memorial Arts Centre—whether the facility should be retained by the City of Wetaskiwin, or if the City should list and sell it.

Background

Built in 1947, the Memorial Arts Centre is a large venue located in central Wetaskiwin suitable for weddings, parties, receptions, City-run programs, and other gatherings. The Centre is frequently used as a backup facility by City-run youth programs during the summer when the Manluk Centre is fully booked and is often a designated polling station during federal, provincial, and municipal elections.

With a seating capacity of 325, the upper hall includes an open-concept floor plan equipped with a bar, a full commercial kitchen, an adjoining patio, and a stage with a built-in sound system. The lower hall is smaller, comprising of two connected spaces similarly equipped with a full kitchen and bar, and can be used for weddings, receptions, etc.

It should be noted that other local facilities exist within Wetaskiwin with similar capacities that offer comparable services, including the City-owned Knights of Columbus Park Centre at By-the-Lake Park and locally-owned businesses/organizations such as Best Western Wayside Inn, Wetaskiwin Agricultural Society, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1559, and Wetaskiwin Royal Canadian Legion Branch 86.

Wetaskiwin parks, facilities, and recreation departments share the operating responsibilities for the Memorial Arts Centre. Parks is responsible for site maintenance such as snow removal and grass mowing. Facilities is in charge of event set-up and walk-throughs, while Recreation takes care of the bookings.

In 2022, the Memorial Arts Centre was booked 34 times as of December 1, 2022. Booking statistics also include City of Wetaskiwin rentals of the Memorial Arts Centre, for which a booking fee is not applicable.

Survey

Through priority-based budgeting, the Memorial Arts Centre was identified by the City as a building that could be utilized differently by the community. The Memorial Arts Centre, as a City-owned facility, directly competes with a number of facilities that serve the same or similar purposes owned by other local groups, such as Best Western Wayside Inn, Wetaskiwin Agricultural Society, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1559, and Wetaskiwin Royal Canadian Legion Branch 86.

Tell us what you think the City should do with the Memorial Arts Centre by filling out our survey by January 8, 2023. A survey report will be made available on this page once it has been presented to Wetaskiwin City Council during their February 27, 2023 council meeting at 9 a.m.

All survey responses included in the report to City Council will be anonymized.

Survey closes: January 8, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.