CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). CollingwoodToday received the following letter in response to the story ‘Forward-thinking’: Draft plans for Collingwood’s downtown revealed
Have you noticed that every musical, theatrical or vocal performance in Collingwood is typically sold out or the venue is at capacity?
This is being accomplished by people who believe in promoting Canadian arts and culture. Against all odds, I may add.
Collingwood is evolving into a destination for vacationers, skiers and people looking for a local cultural experience.
The current spaces that are being used for performances are not adequate for not only the performers but also the audience. They are limited in size and spread around town.
The downtown core realizes very little financial benefit from the lack of downtown performance space.
The people that are moving to Collingwood, whether they be seniors or young families need more facilities. Young people, especially, need a place to express themselves artistically.
Young people need to keep our Canadian culture alive. Look at Niagara On The Lake and Stratford. Both forward-thinking communities about the same population size as Collingwood.
Arts and culture have been economic drivers in those towns and their downtown cores, for years and continue to be so.
What is our culture? Seems we have forgotten what it is to be Canadian. What is our identity? What is our music? What is our theatre?
Remember how “Come From Away” made us all proud of the Newfoundlanders and Canadians? How about Gordon Lightfoot? Donald Sutherland and Christopher Plummer?
If Collingwood would build a beautiful performance space, it would attract wonderful performers from all parts of Canada and keep our Canadian culture alive. Oh, and bring significant economic impact to the downtown businesses.
I love Collingwood and Canada. Please, let’s think about the future and build a space downtown that will make us proud.
Charlie Gudaitis
Collingwood, Ont.
