In the early 1990s when the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre was officially opened, the chairman of the recreation and parks department of that day, Les Godfrey, issued one clear directive.
"Use it," he urged.
The citizens of Estevan had just been handed a beautiful multi-purpose facility that contained all kinds of equipment and fun things to do, but it would all be for naught, he warned, unless the population grasped the opportunity to do something with it.
We learned slowly, but we learned. The leisure centre's services and capabilities were expanded as was the usage and more than 15 years later, we have a busy facility.
Now, on the eve of the official opening of Spectra Place, following two full dress rehearsals, we'd like to echo Godfrey's words.
This is a multi-purpose event facility attached to another multi-purpose facility that requires only the imagination of its users to make it succeed.
Spectra Place is a gem. No expenses or details were spared in getting it built and operational.
The rest is up to us.
We cannot be content with having Spectra Place become only a building for 30 home games for the Estevan Bruins and a couple of concerts a year. It will require much more imagination.
In a city of nearly 13,000 residents and a regional population base that exceeds 40,000, this building could become a centrepiece for a number of events, conventions, concerts and tournaments.
With the nearby Civic Auditorium to call upon, as well as the curling rink and ECS Cafetorium, the sky is now the limit if this city decides to book significant events.
Showcase, for example, doesn't have to be limited to 96 stalls from now on. Spectra Place is flexible that way, unlike the Auditorium and Lignite Miners Centre.
What is to prevent Spectra's brain trusts from getting together with the local Stars for Saskatchewan selection team to book two or three major talents into the place per year? Slide in a concert that might attract 2,000 paying customers, not 300 or 400. There are grants available to ease the booking pains, but they have to be explored and exploited if Spectra is going to be maximized.
We want this facility to turn its scheduler into a grumpy person as he or she attempts to shuffle people and events in and out of this edifice of the Energy City.
We'll certainly have some clunker events, no entertainment complex has ever escaped that situation. Even Carnegie Hall has had its off-key moments.
But we're not comparing Spectra Place to Carnegie, we're comparing it to other entertainment complexes in southern Saskatchewan and we don't think we have to take a back seat to any of them outside of Regina. So the trick is to utilize what we have to maximize our exposure as a community in which people choose to live, work, visit and play in.
We've spent the money, now we have to expend the energy to make it work. And that job begins next week with the official opening.
Use it.
