BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The City of Dryden and the surrounding area is about to reap the benefits of the will and determination of community members melding together to create a new, state-of-the-art Training and Cultural Auditorium Centre.
It was not an easy or quick process to bring an all-encompassing adult training facility to Dryden, says Bill Dawes, vice-chair of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.
“This need was recognized a while ago by the school board and the gestation period for this project has been almost four years,” says Dawes. “The facility will go a long way in meeting our goal, which is to encourage people in our area to be life-long learners.”
In the late 90s, the school board began to approach the private sector with the intent of building partnerships for the facility. The board also approached Confederation College for support. The City of Dryden came on board with the cultural auditorium aspect.
“There was a need for a large auditorium space in the city and if it was designed in a flexible way it could also be used part-time for training purposes as well,” says Dawes.
Confederation College sees the centre as a great opportunity to expand its educational programming.
“We are quite excited about the possibilities and are looking forward to the opening,” says Reg Jones, vice-president of administrative services with Confederation College. “It means we have a permanent home for our Dryden campus.”
The mayor of Dryden is excited about the initiative.
“This is excellent news for the northwest,” says Dryden mayor Sid Wintle. “We have never had a permanent
facility or faculty in Dryden from Confederation College and we will have more First Nation presence in the community.”
The different partners worked towards securing funding under different categories from the provincial and federal governments.
The partners also approached Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) Minister Bob Nault to get the First Nation people involved as well. The minister was able to organize funding of $1 million for a special program for First Nations people.
Another core partner in the project is Dryden Entertainment Services, who have committed $1 million towards the cultural auditorium.
The centre will focus on four core areas of training. First, adult education and private- and public-sector training services will provide academic training, retraining and skill upgrading.
“In our society today nobody finishes their school at Grade 12 or even after a post-secondary education,” says Dawes. “People have to continually upgrade their skills, and this facility will allow us to do that.”
Second, post secondary education services will be provided.
“(Post-secondary education) will mostly be through Confederation College offering credit courses towards college
diplomas and technical certification,” Dawes says.
Third, water operator training to First Nations will provide certification to individuals who will operate water treatment plants in First Nation communities north of Dryden.
The auditorium is expected to generate economic benefits for the city.
“The auditorium will enable more cultural events to come to the city and allow the city to get into the convention business,” says Dawes. “It will draw people into the town and they will spend money in gift shops, restaurants and motels.”
Tenders for the project were awarded in early spring. Contractors have started the foundation of the 34,000-
square-foot auditorium. The cost of the project is $6.945 million.
