The society has signed a new five-year management agreement, which has been approved by city council and the Cariboo Regional District board of directors, says a City report issued Tuesday.

“Managing this facility is going to be very, very important to the development of arts and culture in the Central Cariboo,” says society president Graham Kelsey.

“We are really very pleased that there is a building that will be the focus for arts and culture. We are enthusiastic, and hopeful and anxious to get to work.”

The centre is holding lantern-making workshops so people can take part in the event on November 20.

People will carry their lit-up creations from The Arts Station to the Aquatic Centre, led by drumming and stilt walkers, then celebrate with a cake and bonfire.

“It’s just a fun festival,” said Oz Parsons, administrator at The Arts Station. “We will have lots of fire and light from lanterns, the bonfire, fireworks and also performers fire-eating and twirling batons on fire.”

Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn and Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong will speak at 1 p.m. at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.

The arts wing expansion on the existing building is intended for art exhibition, pottery, visual arts and preschool programs.

The new centre, located in the old Williams Lake fire hall on Fourth Avenue was officially opened Tuesday evening with a ribbon cutting and tour of the facility.

Project partner representatives MLA Donna Barnett, Cariboo Regional District Chair Al Richmond, and City Councilor Laurie Walters, were among those on hand for the event.

“I gave it about 30 seconds of thought,” he recalls.

Yellowlees, whose chosen media is sculptural ceramics, and Trent, a multimedia artist who works with clay, cloth, and more, unveiled their joint exhibition at a reception at the Olde Courthouse last Friday. The show runs until the end of October.

Although Trent has displayed her art in the past, the show was Yellowlees’ debut.

Kajda-Minett, who just opened the doors to a new franchise of 4Cats Arts Studio for Kids in South Surrey last week, was hit by the art bug early in her life.

“My godfather was Witold Palka, a Polish artist who was well-known and respected for his work with oils. Growing up, I was exposed to his art and we had his paintings in our home,” she said.

As a result, Kajda-Minett had an appreciation for art an early age, and was immersed in art classes growing up.

During a recent council meeting mayor and councillors agreed to a proposal submitted by the local artists operating the Lakes Artisan Centre.

The building, previously intended to be an interpretive centre with First Nations involvement and partly paid for with Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative grant funding administered by Western Economic Diversification has conditions on any future use including the inability of the village to sell the property.

Tim Palmer chief administrative officer for the Village of Burns Lake said to council that he had been contacted by Western Economic Diversification who had informed him the building was not allowed to be sold under conditions of the grant funding.

When the campus opens next month it will have the 350-seat Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema and the Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre.

Mowafaghian made his fortune as a developer in Iran before he moved to Vancouver in 1987. His foundation has supported many projects in B.C. and around the world, including B.C. Children’s Hospital.

The main building at Klee Wyck – a property on Keith Road once owned by renowned doctor, cancer researcher and humanitarian Ethlyn Trapp — is no longer suitable as a community arts centre, West Vancouver’s chief administrator officer Brent Leigh said.

“Some earlier investment in that facility would have allowed it to continue to be used, but it’s becoming a public safety concern to us,” he said.

One of the District’s official cultural facilities, Klee Wyck – named by Trapp in honour her good friend Emily Carr — is home to children’s performing arts programs, adult visual arts programs and is also rented out as studio space for artists. But after years of neglect, the building does not meet the District of West Vancouver’s safety standards, Leigh said.

But as the SODC board awaits public comment before approving much-needed matching funds, the Squamish Arts Council’s opinion (SAC) may become a barrier.

SAC president Krisztina Egyed questioned the logic of investing large amounts of SODC money into a project that will only last seven years as an interim arts venue.

“We’re still looking at the business plan itself and the viability of the facility,” said Egyed. “We’re very concerned with the amount of money required to bring it up to proper functionality for arts and culture use, and that compared with the longevity of the building, considering it’s going to be torn down in seven years, needs to make sense.”

The will be led by executive director Michael Cade who brings extensive experience in theatre production and management to his role. Both Cade and his new staff are anticipating the scheduled Sept. 19 opening week of celebrations to launch the centre, building up to the “Red Carpet Affair” opening gala on Sept. 25.

Chris Reid and Jamea Lister excel in running the theatre’s technical systems, KellyAnne TeBrinke brings co-ordination skills and marketing know-how to the team, Anna Stecca will ensure patrons are served promptly at the new centre box office, Chrissie Hood organizes the books and keeps the office efficient, Theresia Reid serves organizations and individuals interested in booking space at the centre, and Kelly Walton co-ordinates cleaning, including janitorial supplies and staff. Additionally, the marketing manager and technical director have been appreciative of the work from three students from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).

The Centre is located in the Christina Lake Community Park on Hwy. 3, just east of the Christina Creek Bridge.

This official ceremony will be opening the region’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Ecological Design) building which will house Canada’s first LEED Artisan’s Gallery.

The project is the culmination of over 13 years of proposals for the Community Park to build a Welcome Centre for the region.