Dear Minister Mackay:

The Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce/Board of Trade invites you to reconsider the position taken by ACOA in reneging on it's commitment to complete the Garrick Theatre to its Grand Opening event.

The Chamber's position of support for the completion of the Garrick Theatre is based on 3 major issues.

The first is that the Garrick Theatre is not a new project. The Garrick Theatre is in fact a restoration of a community based business since 1944.The concept of a theatre for movies and live performances was indeed ahead of its time for the outport fishing communities.This is indeed a historical moral context with which one needs to keep in mind. Why is it now that ACOA is with-holding vital money to bring back to life the artistic expression of the local communities that was always here?

The Chamber recommends ACOA stands by its historic moral footsteps by continuing the funding to completion of The Garrick Theatre.

The second reason the Chamber supports the funding to completion of the Garrick Theatre is one of economics. Our outport communities desperately need this theatre to be an economic catalyst once again to increase the quality of life for each and everyone of our citizens. We suffer from chronic unemployment. To with hold our historically successful Garrick Theatre from our citizens is to withhold their chances to be independant of government support(hand-outs.)

The Garrick Theatre is our own home grown stroke of genius. ACOA is a government agency that is there to financially support the communities' home grown business' right to get back on its feet again. ACOA has already spent the citizens hard earned tax money on funding this project. Is ACOA now saying that our money was wasted? Is ACOA as an agency only to start the building of a business towards an excellent economic future and then when we are within our grasp -ACOA stops the funding and says now stare at what you could have had? Is this theatre to be only the white elephant that is left as ACOA's legacy towards economic developmentof the Bonavista Area?

It is cheaper to complete the Garrick Theatre project. It is economically sound to complete the theatre to bring in revenue to get back revenue already paid in. ACOA does not have any other choice but to finish what they started to avoid reckless abandonment of our citizens' money.Completion will bring in revenue to pay back ACOA and provide a surplus for the communities for years to come.

The third issue from the Chamber's point of view is the right of all citizens to enjoy the expression of their artistic heritage and the right to enjoy international culture in the form of movies. The Garrick Theatre was and will be the very heart beat of our communities here in the outports. Families, friends, relatives, visitors, tourists amass with excitement outside the doors. Conversations as vital as water is to a flower will increase the community spirit of working together. The ability of our youth to experience what a Saturday matinee is like will decrease their despondency due to lack of social outings typical for children and teenagers.

The final issue in support of the completion of the Garrick Theatre is one of Historic Culture.The Garrick Theatre is one of the oldest survivng theatres in Newfoundland and Labrador. Millions of dollars are alotted to preserve any countries heritage for generations to come. The Garrick Theatre will pay for its life and breath. People from all over the world will want to see one of the oldest theatres in Newfoundland and Labrador. It speaks of our heritage. The Garrick Theatre tells the stories for all of us of the people, the day to day life, the hardships, the joys and marks our time here spent on the peninsula.

History demands her landmarks to tell her stories.The Garrick Theatre is hers. It is our job to keep the Garrick Theatre safe until such time as history no longer needs her.

The Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce/Board considers ACOA a great funding agency that enhances and excites any community that seeks and gets their support. We urge ACOA to decide to continue the financial support Garrick Theatre to completion. It is a win-win situation for all.

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Zemdegs
President Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce/Board of Trade
Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce/Board of Trade
Bonavista NL A0C 1B0
info@bacc.ca

cc:
Hon. Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Hon. Danny Williams, Premier, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hon. Tom Hedderson, Minister, Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister, Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
Scott Simms, M.P., Bonavista Gander Grand Falls-Windsor
Roger Fitzgerald, M.H.A., Bonavista South
Paul Mills, Vice-President (Newfoundland and Labrador), ACOA
Mayor Betty Fitzgerald, Town of Bonavista

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