Prince George City Council unanimously approved up to $15,000 in spending so that the CN Centre can host a 30th anniversary event this September at its Monday, June 23 meeting.
At the May 26 council meeting, a motion was passed directing staff to prepare a report on the city hosting an anniversary event to commemorate three decades since the former Prince George Multiplex opened on Sept. 28, 1995.
The outline for that celebration was provided in a report attached to the agenda for the June 23 meeting.
Staff proposed that the celebration would also incorporate the city’s annual International Students Welcome and Volunteer Appreciation Event that typically occur around the same time.
“By incorporating these events, we intend on creating a ‘wow’ event that will provide a platform to respectfully, specifically and wholesomely honour our volunteer community, international students and the CN Centre anniversary,” the report said.
The free event is proposed to include a stage with live music, public skating with free skate rentals, concessions and more.
Also proposed is a kickoff ceremony on the stage overlooking the ice surface that will honour past city councillors, suppliers and other personnel instrumental in the facility’s construction, a history of the venue, a thank-you to volunteers, a welcome message for international students and a ceremonial cake cutting.
Administration said it has applied for a provincial grant to help cover the cost and will look for additional support from venue naming sponsor CN Rail as well as the construction and architecture companies instrumental in building the facility.
Coun. Garth Frizzell said he thought including a welcome to students would send a message to the federal government with the numbers of international students set to drop soon.
Skakun mentioned some of the positives that CN Centre has brought to the community, including the Prince George Cougars hockey team, and said it’s important to celebrate the people who made the project possible.
With the city looking for grant application and fundraising opportunities, Coun. Cori Ramsay suggested some kind of legacy project could be pursued.
Coun. Ron Polillo said that the spending was more than he had envisioned when the event was first proposed but noted that it was “up to $15,000” in spending and the actual bill could be lower.
Since the other events are being combined with this one, Coun. Tim Bennett wondered if the funding would be combined into one pot.
Director of civic facilities Andy Beasley said the $20,000 in funding earmarked for the “Thank You PG” this year would be rolled into the anniversary, along with the $15,000 just earmarked by council and whatever funds can be raised on top of that.
Mayor Simon Yu said he thought that representatives from CN Rail and other neighbouring municipalities should be invited.
