In February, my wife Dianne and I attended a “Love Cabaret” performance at the New Life Church. The evening featured four extraordinary international singers, each delivering world-class talent. We enjoyed it immensely—and yet, we left with a deep sense of disappointment. Despite the artists’ efforts, the performance was marred by poor acoustics and an inadequate sound system that simply couldn’t match their calibre. It wasn’t the performers that fell short—it was the venue.
That’s why I’m writing.
Over the years, we’ve lived in Winnipeg, Montreal, and Toronto. When we retired, we considered Niagara-on-the-Lake, drawn by the Shaw Festival, and Stratford, renowned for its Shakespearean theatre. In fact, during our 25 years in Montreal, we spent two weeks every summer attending both festivals. Parry Sound has built a national identity around the Festival of the Sound. Each of these towns is known for something—something cultural, enduring, and distinctive.
And yet, when people ask where we live and we say “Collingwood,” the response is almost always, “Oh—Blue Mountain,” as if the ski hill alone defines us. It’s a well-earned reputation—but it also points to a missed opportunity. Collingwood doesn’t yet have a defining cultural identity. But it could.
Collingwood is home to extraordinary talent, growing audiences, and a long tradition of celebrating the arts. From hosting the Elvis Festival for nearly 25 years—an event that ultimately led my wife and me to settle here in 2014—to the remarkable grassroots efforts of Theatre Collingwood, this town has always punched above its weight culturally. But in 2025, it is no longer enough to celebrate creativity if we’re unwilling to invest in a space where it can truly shine.
Last week’s council vote to stall the Arts and Culture Centre project was more than disappointing—it was a missed opportunity to lead with vision.
This decision came after six years of thoughtful planning, extensive community consultation, and over $300,000 invested in expert advice and feasibility studies. The recommendation brought to Council was not to break ground, but simply to take the next logical step: to design, refine, and explore funding opportunities—with off-ramps in place should that support not materialize. That process was dismissed.
As a resident and long-time supporter of the arts, I must ask: what message does this send to the more than 50 arts and music organizations in our town, and to the thousands of children, youth, seniors, and families who participate in and attend their events? What are we saying to the students who find their voice in music or dance, to the retired residents who volunteer, and to the visiting performers who marvel at our spirit—but not our spaces?
This is not arts vs. sports. It’s about community balance.
Some may see the proposed Arts and Culture Centre as competing with a potential new MURF facility. But that thinking is short-sighted. Collingwood already has a strong base of recreation infrastructure: two indoor hockey rinks, a new YMCA, and a seasonal outdoor rink. Our community knows how to support physical health.
And Collingwood does have a cultural heart—it lives in Theatre Collingwood, in the Collingwood Music Festival, in our choirs and dance troupes, painters and poets, young performers and lifelong creators. But what we lack is a cultural home—a place where music, theatre, storytelling, and shared expression can thrive.
A MURF and an Arts and Culture Centre serve very different needs. One builds the body. The other nourishes the soul. A thriving town needs both.
The warning signs are already here.
As noted in their recent public statement, Theatre Collingwood—after 41 years of serving this town—is now exploring relocation. That alone should be a wake-up call. The Music Festival is already moving performances outside of Collingwood due to inadequate facilities. These are not side projects. They are core parts of what makes this place vibrant, livable, and connected. Once gone, they may not return.
Organizations like these are exactly the kind that draw in new families, attract tourism, support local business, and build community pride. To let them walk away would be more than unfortunate—it would be irreversible.
Other towns are moving forward. Why aren’t we?
Meaford, with half our population, has a beautiful, busy downtown arts centre. Parry Sound (pop. ~6,000) built the Stockey Centre and hosts an internationally renowned music festival. Owen Sound supports a symphony, a theatre, and a thriving folk festival. Closer to home, Blue Mountains and Clearview are already considering steps to support regional arts infrastructure.
Meanwhile, we remain stalled—by process, by politics, or by a fear of cost.
And yet, the proposed centre was projected to bring in $3–6 million annually in economic benefit through tourism, downtown activity, and community programming. Unlike a MURF—which, while valuable, will be an ongoing cost—the Arts and Culture Centre was designed to be a generator of revenue, identity, and pride. And let’s not forget: most of the funding would come from grants, philanthropy, and higher levels of government.
A town without a stage loses its voice.
As our community grows toward 40,000 residents in the next decade, we must ask what kind of town we want to become. One that only builds rinks and roads? Or one that also builds belonging, creativity, and pride?
Not every child plays hockey. Not every adult trains for marathons. But all of us need stories. All of us need music. All of us need places where we can gather, reflect, and celebrate what it means to be part of a community.
That is what an Arts and Culture Centre would give us—not just a building, but a beating heart for our shared future.
This is not a call for instant action or unlimited spending. It is a request for courage and continuity. Let the work already done count. And please vote to proceed to the next phase.
Thank you for your service—and for giving this the second thought it deserves.
Sincerely,
Jim and Dianne Gannon
The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes.
