Oval Ad Still Out There: One Man's Opinion

Wednesday, March 08, 2006 03:45 AM

-by Ben Meisner

Last week Opinion 250 raised the matter of Events Prince George ( under the Initiatives Prince George umbrella) advertising that this city will construct a new Ice oval starting in June of this year.

That message is out there for any of the Athletes planning to come to the 2010 to read and see.

It is there in six different languages, and in spite of being told that the statement is not true, it continues to adorn the web site. Mayor Colin Kinsley says the Ice Oval Society is raising the 5 million needed for the facility on their own. The presentation made by the Ice Oval Committee to City Council is available on-line for anyone to read, and it tells a different story.

It says the committee will assist the city to raise the funds. It also says sources of funds include the City, Regional District, Province, Federal government and private donations. They appear to be counting on the city for money.

The business plan has yet to be presented, but the City contributed $32,000 towards that plan. The fact the Sopciety had to borrow money for their own business plan suggests the Society is strapped for cash. So when the Mayor says it is the Oval Society who will raise the money, just who is he talking about?

What is certain is that we are out there, front and center on the world stage, advertising that a new Ice oval will begin construction in June of this year featuring an artificial ice surface, and a 4,000 sq ft. facility attached.

If the city is the main contributor to the facility, then perhaps either some Councilor should be raising the issue or the taxpayers should be told just what the City Council is up to.

I’m Meisner and that is one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on March 8 2006 7:21 AM

There should be a refferendum on these kinds of expenditures front and center. Thats how the 'big cities' do it.

I think its unacceptable to be selling a service to the world that has not yet even been sold to those who will be paying for this service.

I guess thats how Offet and Kinsly do business? Cloak and dagger, middle of the night kind of stuff...

Posted by: diplomat on March 8 2006 8:47 AM

>"There should be a referendum on these kinds of expenditures front and center."<

Referenda (referendums) are not a popular item with politicians who intend to do things "their way" -knowing everything better than those whose vote they treasure only at election time!

The few times we were given an opportunity to vote by referendum on certain issues (recall legislation, STV voting initiative, Terasen gas) I got a warm and fuzzy feeling of actually having participated in something that represents the ultimate democracy.

How about it, Colin?

Let's have a vote on the Oval, the Cameron Street bridge and other important issues!

Posted by: owl on March 8 2006 11:52 AM

Let's face it, how many serious speedskaters really go to that website and would depend on an unbuilt site to make committments 2, 3, 4 years down the road?

Is anyone going to book hotels now, bring a team here in 2009 or 2010, drive to the site and curse up and down at the City Fathers for selling them a dream if it has not been built, or proves to be a less than the ideal facility they expected?

If so, then these are the same people who respond to door to door salesmen and spammers telling them to check their VISA account .....

Buyer beware.

That being said, it is too bad that our city is lumped in whith that kind of marketing for those few who might end up seeing it. It is not something to be proud of as a citizen of this community. But did anyone really expect the City to run and change their site?

Posted by: Palopu on March 8 2006 4:51 PM

Its somewhat the same as the Mayor getting the World Winter Cities Asscociation for Mayors conference in Prince George in four years time. While this may or may not be a good thing depending on the cost etc;, it seems to me that he arranged for it without any discussion with council or anyone else, unless I missed it. So in effect we have a one man show.

Posted by: Percy on March 14 2006 8:17 PM

Is it not our responsibility to let our Mayor and City Officials know our needs, our concerns, our fears and our hopes?

Why is it that when we have an election, we just accept whatever those who got elected want to do?

They were elected to represent us and our needs. It doesn't matter who got elected. They still have a responsibility to carry out our wishes.

They do need to know what our wishes are. Don't they?

It's not right that we would just let them do what they want for the next 4 years until we have an opportunity to replace them. (Maybe)

They need our guidance, our input, our involvement, our support in whatever they think is best for this city. So, let's help them decide what is best for us. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on March 14 2006 8:53 PM

>"It's not right that we would just let them do what they want for the next 4 years until we have an opportunity to replace them."

It is a three year term for municipal elections, not four years.

I encourage everyone to contact the mayor and councilors with all your concerns.

One never knows, some of them may actually listen. I know Brian Skakun will listen; he keeps his head below the clouds where reality resides.

Can't vouch for any of the others.