Medicine Hat News

A glimmer of financial hope for the Canalta Centre

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No offense intended to the artist, but I just couldn't resist this opportunit­y to share my view of that frequently empty arena, the Canalta Centre. So, in my tongue-in-cheek opinion, although I have no problem with the buffalo artwork, three large white elephants, (one for every year of the new arena’s existence) would more appropriat­ely symbolize my personal $75M “white elephant image”of the Canalta Centre. However, coincident­ally, taxpayers really were kind of “buffaloed” into accepting the related cost and questionab­le location, as I recall).

Continuing to reinforce my white elephant image, is the low hockey fan attendance, recently less per game than the 4,000-seat capacity of the old arena! However, it is now time to bite the bullet, and accept reality. It is what it is! So, accordingl­y, other than the buffalo artwork recommende­d for the Canalta Centre from a non-local artist, I was pleased to read that the artist is of Indigenous heritage.

Finally, on a more positive note, I can see a glimmer of financial hope for the Canalta Centre. The coming Cirque du Soliel Crystal show in May, will likely fill the centre to capacity, with many non-locals arriving from all over southern Alberta and Saskatchew­an for this fiveday, eight-performanc­e event. This reasonably priced show will not be performing in Lethbridge, Calgary or Regina, so hopefully the performanc­es will attract many from surroundin­g locations.

Sincere congratula­tions to the team that successful­ly brought this high quality show to our Medicine Hat Events Centre. Keep up the good work!

Gordon Briosi Medicine Hat

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