Benefits

Many social groups and educational organizations will benefit from a new facility.  The building will be accessible to people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. These groups include local artists, indigenous community members, persons with disabilities, seniors, Yellowhead County residents and youth. Each were asked “How a new performing arts facility would benefit our community and how would their demographic benefit from a new performing arts facility?”

Local Arts Benefits

The arts are important to individuals as a means of creative expression. The arts are important to communities as they provide an opportunity to come together and feel part of something greater than ourselves. A new performing arts facility would benefit our community and the arts community by creating a space of possibility–one that has fewer limitations than existent facilities. Investment in the arts is an important part of growing a vibrant, dynamic community.

-Response composed and submitted by Robyne Wilock, January 19, 2018

Indigenous Peoples Benefits

Indigenous people are natural artists. We existed with only the materials around us and made art that was both purposeful as well as beautiful and unique. As many people know, space is important to Indigenous people. We believe that space is not owned, but it is shared. Having an arts centre means having a new space to showcase art and exist with one another in a facility that is set aside for creative minds. It means a place to have workshops showcasing Indigenous art as well as other forms of art. It would be important to contact the local Indigenous people and have the space available for young emerging Indigenous artists to access the centre. Edson currently doesn’t have an art space that is all encompassing and accessible for members of the community, let alone Indigenous people. Having this art facility would open doors for a lot of Indigenous artists and youth who want to explore the arts. It could provide inspiration for individuals and an opportunity to learn about cultural art. It provides an opportunity for local Indigenous artists to showcase their work as well.

– Response composed and submitted by Mackenzie Brown, Warrior Women, February 13, 2018

Local Business Benefits

Creativity is at the heart of everything we do. ATB Financial is a strong supporter of the arts shown by having a branch dedicated to the Arts and Culture in Calgary on Stephen Avenue and with a Arts Barn in the Old Strathcona district in Edmonton. Connecting and strengthening Alberta’s creative community is a focus for ATB Financial as we understand the challenges that artists face as we consider ourselves artists as well. Having a new performing arts facility would enhance the existing arts community by encouraging greater public participation. The venue could be a multi-use facility which could attract entertainers, guest speakers and conferences from outside the community.

-Response composed and submitted by Axel Axmann, Branch Manager for Edson Alberta Treasury Branch, February 12, 2018

Persons with Disabilities Benefits

To hear that ACES is advocating to develop a new performing arts centre truly warms my heart for a couple of reasons. One being that being the Director of one of the agencies for Persons with Disabilities, both mental and physical, to see the individuals get excited for and after the shows is so rewarding. There are individuals whose interest cannot be held for great lengths of time but we have not experienced them want to leave these productions. The individuals express their love of the productions through communication, both verbal and expressive. Your group has gone over and beyond on supporting the individuals getting to the venue and being able to experience the show. To have a new venue would benefit the individuals in being able to get into and watch the productions with greater ease, cause we both know getting the wheelchair in and out can be difficult and frustrating, not only to the individuals but the workers as well. With limited mobility as some of the individuals have they are able to enjoy the show but at the same seats year after year, with a new centre they would be able to enjoy the shows at different levels and different points as you and I are able. Like I said previously you and your team are very accommodating but this is something that is not always offered to the individuals. We have come a long way in regards to Persons with Disabilities being able to access the community and what the community has to offer it would be a great benefit to have the performing arts with this same accessibility. The performing arts gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to see how emotions can be expressed creatively. The individuals also have the opportunity to use the productions as way to use socialization within the community, which we know can be difficult for an individual with disabilities and even more difficult when they have to sit within their own group because of limited access to sitting, a new performance arts centre will allow for a broader range of sitting arrangements. On another hand I truly believe the new centre would be beneficial to the community as whole, the outdated venue does make it difficult to enjoy the production fully when you are sweating and squished, but gentlemen like Mr. Taylor and his team make it so worth it. There has been times when parents, loved ones and friends are unable to watch a production due to limited capacity, yes I know there is more than one shows but this still makes it difficult and we would all benefit from a bigger venue. The stage is very small but doable because they make it work, but imagine the production and shows if the platform wasn’t so limited. I as a community member and an advocated for Persons with Disabilities I feel very strongly that the community as a whole would benefit with a new arts centre. I want to thank Mr. Taylor and ACES for what they do and all the hard work and countless hours they put in to bring art, theatre and drama programs to our community.

-Composed and submitted by Sherri Brown, Executive Director, Supporting Choices of People Edson (SCOPE), February 13, 2018

Senior Benefits

I feel that we need a new arts centre as the current venue is not friendly for seniors with disabilities in regards to mobility. I recently had a hip replacement and went to see a production at the Red Brick. I found the stairs very steep and frankly a little scary. Some seniors could find our current facility a deterrent and would not attend a performance. Having a more accessible facility would keep our seniors more active and stimulated. It has been said that our current venue is “good enough”. That is not a standard I want to live by.
Having a new Arts Centre would allow Edson to showcase our local talent better, and allow seniors more opportunities to attend, even if they have limited mobility.
A town the size of Edson should want to be proud of a facility that would be so greatly used and utilized.

-Response composed and submitted by Rita Stinert, local senior, February 25, 2018

Yellowhead County Benefits

As a Yellowhead County resident, I fully support my tax money be used to build a new an arts centre as the current facilities that we have in our community do not hold enough people, are too cold or too hot, uninviting and have unsafe stairs.  
With a new facility we will be able to hold so much more events for our community. As a music instructor we will be able to hold music recitals, family talent shows, larger drama productions and so much more.  As of now we do not have the room anywhere in the Town of Edson or Yellowhead County community to hold them.
Having a new facility will bring all generations together as we have a huge talented community.

-Response composed and submitted by Christine Chase, Yellowhead County resident and Music Instructor, February 14, 2018

Youth Benefits

A new performing arts facility would bring our community together so that we could collaborate, gather and create. The performing arts give a sense of security and belonging to so many youth in the community. To have a facility to share their talents would be very meaningful, not only for the performers but the community members who would be in the audience enjoying great work. Many youth would greatly benefit from a performing arts facility because they could have a place to call their own, and to showcase their talents. For many youth in the community, the arts are a huge part of their identity, and a performing arts facility would help strengthen that identity.

-Response composed and submitted by Jayna Fedorak, local youth, January 7, 2018

The community of Edson has consistently supported and encouraged all ages of the members of this community to participate and develop amazing talent through the performing arts. As a Trustee with Living Waters School Division I have personally witnessed how our students at Holy Redeemer Catholic Junior/Senior High School have found joy and purpose in developing their skills and talents with the drama program. The students work diligently to maintain their school work while they put in many hours to perfect their character along with their fellow cast members to present amazing plays for the residents of Edson. Schools and communities have always generously supported youth with sports for healthy development. The performing arts teach our community youth to work together and build healthy relationships among various age groups that help to nurture and promote success in school and within our community. The many people who are actively involved in the performing arts in Edson are the people who stay or return to our community to foster pride and development within Edson and the surrounding area. I fully support the development of a new performing arts facility for the community of Edson.

-Response composed and submitted by Tammy Kennedy, Trustee, Living Waters Catholic Regional School Division #42, January 9, 2018