The general public gets its chance to give input this Saturday on the proposed $10-million Bulkley Valley Arts and Culture Building and the future of Central Park.
The open house is at the Farmers’ Market in Central Park from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Work has been going on with a pre-feasibility and concept plan since a contract was signed in February with Public Architecture + Communication, with over 30 hours of stakeholder meetings in March and April. That concept plan is scheduled to be presented with three versions to the public on June 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Those stakeholders would include the likely tenants of such a building: Smithers Public Library, Bulkley Valley Museum, and the Smithers Art Gallery.
Other organizations affected include the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce (visitor centre), Farmers Market vendors, and CICK FM (their train car is at Central Park). The future of the outdoor rink is also part of the discussion.
The Village of Telkwa and Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako are other interested parties, as the centre is meant to be regional.
The Smithers five-year capital plan has the centre being built in 2019, after the next municipal election in October 2018.