A Message from the Board of Directors
By Deb Tymstra

On July 9 Performing Arts Burlington members attended the demolition ceremony of the police station at the corner of Elgin and Locust streets.  It was a very warm, sunny day with many people taking cover under a tent, while others braved the heat to be as close to the action as possible. 

As the Burlington Teen Tour Band played, the claws of the large Murray Demolition crane pulled down the first section of the police station as a symbolic but significant gesture furthering our dream of a Performing Arts Centre in Burlington.

This landmark event was the culmination of years of dedicated work and enthusiasm, not only by PAB members but also the fundraising cabinet and a top-notch project management team led by Leo Deloyde, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Burlington, and Craig Stevens, Project Coordinator. 

PAB has played an integral role in encouraging the City to pursue a Performing Arts Centre.  We have been blessed with many outstanding contributions from our members.  For several years Monica Scrivener and Bernard Scrivener held a spectacular fashion show to raise money.  Monica and Bernard poured hundreds of hours each year into ensuring an evening at the Burlington Art Centre that we would not forget, and each year their gift to this project grew. 

Brad Townsend of the Rude Native spearheaded an annual walking tour of downtown restaurants.  Downtown Dining, which continues today in support of Performing Arts Burlington, began as an event to raise money and enthusiasm for the PAC.  With 17 restaurants donating their food and beverage, staff time and premises, patrons were treated to a summer Sunday afternoon like none other. 

On January 25 of this year, at our annual gala event, we presented Mayor Cam Jackson and the City with a cheque for $64,000 raised by these and other events.  Monica, Bernie, Brad and all the restaurants, thank you for your vision, your belief in our dream and for giving so much. Since the inception of this project, PAB's Performing Arts Centre Advisory Committee has voluntarily advised and commented on several technical aspects of the centre.  The experience and expertise of this group is extraordinary and their contribution continues as the project unfolds.  

Lawrie Bonnano, Trevor Bonnano, Jack Brokenshire, Dave Stempin, Ron Hebbard and Joe Henning have poured through hundreds of pages of detailed documentation and drawings, scrutinizing and analyzing various aspects of the design. Their reports have become part of the considerations of the project management team. Joe Henning represents PAB on the project management team.  Thank you all for your very skilled hand in the future home of performance in Burlington. 

Strategic plan

As many of you know, in 2004 PAB received a three-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to lay the foundation of the organization we are today.  Early in 2007, the board recognized the need to develop a strategic plan that would guide us through the next three to four years.  As we reviewed the commitments we had made to Trillium in 2004 we realized how far we had come and the potential of what we could do in the future. 

With a strategic plan approved by our Board of Directors in July 2007, we again applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation.  I am very pleased to tell you that in August we were approved for another three-year grant.  Our thanks go to Gilmar Militar of the OTF for his support and belief in the work that we have done and our vision for the future.

On Monday, September 8, a reception was held at Theatre Burlington to hear the details of the strategic plan and what the future holds for PAB.  We are looking forward to expanding the focus of PAB beyond music, dance and theatre and significantly contribute to the development of partnerships, awareness and participation in arts and culture in our community.  We are an extremely culturally and artistically gifted community with many things to share with each other and those who visit our city.  If you were unable to attend, but would like information about our strategic direction please contact the PAB office.

Volunteers

Performing Arts Burlington is also looking for volunteers, the backbone of our organization and a rewarding way to be involved in the growth of a very worthwhile and vibrant community group.  More information on the volunteer opportunities is available on our website at www.performingartsburlington.com.

Next January our Board of Directors will be chosen by the membership.  We are currently seeking five people to serve on the Board.  You will have received a letter outlining the required commitment of directors in the mail.  If not, and you are interested, please contact the office or refer to the announcement on our website.

Barb Keck has been instrumental in the design and production of our newsletter since the first issue some eight years ago.  She has volunteered her services and those of her staff at the Graphic Attic for some 32 issues.  We have relied on her expertise, knowledge, good nature and flexibility to produce a publication we can be proud of.  Barb has now decided to step down as newsletter designer and chair of the Communications Committee. Thank you Barb for all you have done for us.

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