Times Advocate, 1993-05-05, Page 151
Renovations completed
Despite ire, Centralia college unveils conference centre
It's amazing what new brmiture and a fresh coat of paint can
do. The conference centre also has the ability to cater ban-
quets and house large groups for extended conferences.
.1
Huron
County
,rejoins
tourism
association
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
GODERIGH - Te) importance
of Huron County's tourism busi-
ness has taken an about face.
After a two-year absence, the
county has decided to once again
be a member of the Southwestern
Ontario Tourism Association.
The group, SWOTA, assists mu-
nicipalities in promoting their spe-
cial events and special attractions.
"When we didn't join last year,
we did a cost analysis. The depart-
ment thinks it's cost efficient, we
felt SWOTA helps us," said Gary
Davidson, Director of Planning for
Huron County. "They go to a lot
of shows we can't get to."
SWOTA attends many travel
and tourism show and as part of
the $4,500 membership fee, the
county would have SWOTA pass
on important information about
the county at those shows.
The county has tourism bro-
chures of their own and the four
Economic Development Commit-
tees throughout the county have
spent a considerable amount of
money on these.
That brought the issue of wheth-
er or not the county should be pay-
, ing twice for tourism. Bill Clifford
of Goderich said that town pays to
be a member of SWOTA anyway,
even if they aren't represented at
the county level.
"Some will be double funding
and I don't think that's right," said
Hay Township's Lionel .Wilder
who added not all municipalities
. benefit from SWOTA.
Dave Lee of Blyth, home of one
of the best known theaters in
Southwestern Ontario, read a letter
from the Blyth Theater's market-
ing director which stated, "if we
want to attract people to the thea-
tre, we have to market the whole
county."
th While the Agriculture, Planning
and Development Committee
made the recommendation that the
county not belong to SWOTA, in
a recorded vote, council decided in
• favour of joining, 24 to 7.
Bob Hallam from West Wawa -
nosh, who made the original mo-
tion in the committee, was con-
oerned about funding.
1 feel we should take time and
reflect instead of jumping back -
and -forth. 1 don't believe in spend-
ing money we don't have," he said.
The $4,500 will once again
come out of the planning and de-
.aalqpment department's budget.
"T'here are still 12 good
months left to go."
Kathryn Biondi
By Erin Lobb
T -A Staff
HURON PARK - Despite last
week's news Centralia College will
close next year, the school unveiled
it's newly renovated conference
rooms last Tuesday for prospective
clients.
"The conferencing centre itself is
not really a part of the college at
all," said Elgin Fairwell, Adminis-
trative Officer for CCAT. In fact
the conference centre is an indepen-
dently run facility, renovated from
the funds generated by past clients.
Over the past six months, renova-
tions have included sound proof
conference rooms in Bruce Hall
able 4o accommodate 15 to 500
people, as well as a meeting room
in Huron Hall. Both areas have
easy access to a computer lab
which is currently in use as a con-
tinuing education facility.
St. Thomas designer Gary Baker,
has given a fresh new look to the
rooms that were previously dormi-
tories. The attractive colours and
modem furniture will make the
space a very comfortable area for
the various conferences Fairwell
said were heavily booked over the
• summer.
When questioned about the future
of the conference facilities, Fair -
well said "There are a lot of un-
knowns," indicating that the con-
ference facilities would be used
until negotiations on college clo-
Deputy Reeve Bill Weber of the Stephen Council presents
CCAT director Kathryn Biondi with a print to commemorate the
opening of the newly renovated Centralia College conference
centre.
sure are finalized.
"There are still 12 good months
left to go," said CCAT director
Kathryn Biondi, +auto emphasized
her concerns about the resulting
layoffs due to the facility's closure.
Fairwell hoped the new confer-
ence facility would stay open as
long as possible.
"It is a community resource," he
said, "a very useful one."
Future clients include a children's
choir from Thailand, the Model
Aeronautics Association, and the
Forest City Ramblers Basketball
Association.
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