The Dryden Regional Training and Cultural Centre is a high-grade jewel of conference and community space in this rugged industry town in northwestern Ontario.
Built in 2004 for $7.6 million, the 34,000-square-foot publicly owned centre was a collaborative endeavour first dreamed up in the late 1990s by the City of Dryden, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (the building's owners), Confederation College and other community partners.
With its distinctive sloping glass atrium roof, framed in wood, the spectuclar landmark building is a valuable community asset.
Designed by Habib Architects of Thunder Bay, the building was bestowed with an Ontario Wood Works award in 2008 for the use of wood in its architectural and structural elements.
Located just blocks from the downtown, the venue is ideal for conferences, workshops, concerts, business meetings and weddings.
Though capable of hosting large conferences, event co-ordinator John Carlucci realizes Dryden's geography, relative to major centres, poses a huge challenge in attracting large events to the community of 8,600.
“For us to advertise Canada-wide or Ontario-wide is pretty tough.”
But the centre is the go-to place within the district to stage conferences that pulls in delegates from Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Kenora, all within a two-hour drive.
“That's what makes us work, because we are centrally located to a lot of places,” said Carlucci.
While there's been occasional talk about constructing a 500-seat conference centre and hotel, Carlucci admits, “it's tough to fly that many people into town to stage a major conference.”
Those out-of-towners that do arrive for an event come away impressed with the service and turn-key approach, he said.
“We're the envy of a lot of the towns because we are so flexible, and often we get guests on government business from Toronto and they just can't believe the service they get. You show up, plug in your laptop and you're ready for business. We look after everything.”
The building contains two fully wired classrooms and a computer lab, along with a 500-seat theatre-style performing arts auditorium.
The auditorium's best asset is its flexible space. The tiered seating is partially retractable as the rear 300 seats can be removed to create an open space for banquets, exhibits or meeting break-out space.
A new feature in the auditorium has been the installation of a high-definition projector and a 14-by-24-foot screen.
“With the theatre closing, we're showing movies now,” said Carlucci, who oversees a roster of 23 casual staff.
Catering is provided through local vendors, and the centre's auditorium and atrium – the latter being popular for weddings and anniveraries – are fully licensed.
“It's the customer service here and that's important for me and my staff. And people come to appreciate that we make it easy for them,” said Carlucci.
Having a high-quality venue in town has meant repeat business in hosting various ministry conferences and the annual Northwest Response Forum on disaster management.
Carlucci said although the centre sometimes competes for conference business with the private sector, he's always open to new event ideas to generate revenue.
Bookings can usually be made within three weeks' notice.
While mineral exploration is booming in the Kenora district and major capital investments made at the Domtar pulp mill, Carlucci said the economic stability and local optimism haven't yet translated into increased activity in the centre.
“Once the new mines open up, things will change.”
Among the centre's permanent tenants are the Northwest Training and Adjustment Board, Confederation College, Developmental Services Ontario, and Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium and the Northwestern Ontario Infection Control Network.
